The Federal Supreme Court is Switzerland’s highest court. It exercises judicial functions at federal level. The Federal Criminal Court, the Federal Administrative Court and the Federal Patent Court are the three other courts at federal level.
The Federal Supreme Court
The Federal Supreme Court is the highest judicial authority in Switzerland. It rules as the final instance on all appeals against decisions of the highest cantonal courts, the Federal Criminal Court, the Federal Administrative Court and the Federal Patent Court. The court ensures that Swiss federal law is correctly applied in individual cases and that the rights of citizens enshrined in the Constitution are protected.
The Federal Criminal Court
Most criminal cases are decided in the first instance by cantonal courts. The Federal Criminal Court hears criminal cases involving offences against federal interests, explosives offences, international cases of white-collar crime, cases relating to organised crime, corruption and money laundering, and offences related to civil aviation or war material.
The Federal Administrative Court
The Federal Administrative Court rules on appeals against decisions made by authorities of the Federal Administration. Some of the issues may be controversial from both a social and political standpoint. Examples include decisions of principle in asylum-related cases or on major transport and infrastructure projects.
The Federal Patent Court
Technical inventions, which often come at considerable expense, are afforded valuable legal protection in the form of patents. If there is a dispute, the Federal Patent Court decides whether a patent for a technical innovation is legally valid and whether patent rights have been infringed by a product or process. The court also decides on cases where there is a dispute over who holds a given patent, or how a patent may be used in terms of a licence.
Each canton has its own courts, which hear cases at first instance in their jurisdictions.