The Swiss Federal Court celebrates its 150th anniversary

27 October 2025

The Federal Court (Tribunal fédéral, Bundesgericht, Tribunale federale, Tribunal federal) celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2025. The 1848 Constitution already established a Supreme Court, but its powers were modest.

It was only with the 1874 Constitution, which came into force in 1875, that the Federal Court became a permanent court. As the highest judicial authority of the Confederation, it was responsible for protecting citizens’ freedoms and fundamental rights, as well as ensuring the uniform application of federal law.

The Federal Court’s seat was assigned to Lausanne, a compromise: Bern is the German-speaking political capital, and Lausanne is the French-speaking legal capital of the country. The Federal Court is housed in the neoclassical building (built in 1922) in Mon-Repos Park.

Every citizen can approach the Federal Court for civil, criminal, or administrative law. The appeal is directed against judgments of the highest cantonal court, the Federal Criminal Court (Tribunal pénal fédéral, Bundesstrafgericht, Tribunale penale federale, Tribunal penal federal) in Bellinzona, the Federal Administrative Court (Tribunal administratif fédéral, Bundesverwaltungsgericht, Tribunale amministrativo federale, Tribunal administrativ federal) in Lucerne, and the Federal Patent Court (Tribunal fédéral des brevets, Bundespatentgericht, Tribunale federale dei brevetti, Tribunale federal da patentas) in St. Gall.

Complaints can be made about violations of federal, international, and intercantonal law. The Federal Court also assesses complaints alleging violations of fundamental rights, as set out in the Federal Constitution or the European Convention on Human Rights. The Federal Court must apply federal laws enacted by Parliament. It can only determine incompatibility with the Constitution.

(Source and further information: Bundesgericht)

Le Parc de Mon-Repos