The Swiss Federal Administrative Court

The Federal Administrative Court decides on appeals concerning the legality of rulings made by the federal administrative authorities. It therefore deals with a broad spectrum of legal issues ranging from A for asylum to Z for zoning law. The court also examines appeals against certain decisions made by cantonal governments, such as those concerning hospital lists.Lastly, it rules in the first instance on legal actions instituted in specific areas, e.g. in cases involving public law contracts.

The Federal Administrative Court, which is based in St. Gallen, is comprises six divisions and the General Secretariat. Division I focuses on infrastructure, taxes, federal employment and data protection; Division II on economics affairs, competition and education; Division III on social insurance and public health; Divisions IV and V on asylum law; and Division VI on the law on foreign nationals and citizenship.

The judges are elected by the United Federal Assembly. They perform their duties independently and are bound only by the law. With 73 judges and 365 employees, it is Switzerland’s largest federal court.

President: Vito Valenti

Own inquieries
In hearing legal disputes, the Federal Administrative Court does not rely solely on the facts established in the lower instance and on the parties' submissions, it establishes the material facts. For this purpose, it calls on experts to deliver opinions and in certain cases makes preparatory inquiries or visual inspections.

Largely final
Each year, the court issues an average of 6500 decisions – mostly in writing – in German, French and Italian. Most of its judgments are final.