The ordinary courts of first instance, organised by district within each canton, hearing most civil and criminal cases at the trial level. Their names and internal organisation vary by canton, but all now apply the unified federal codes of civil and criminal procedure.
How the court is constituted
- Tier
- first instance
- Court type
- Courts of first instance in civil and criminal matters
- Jurisdiction
- Cantonal — first-instance civil and criminal cases
- Seat
- District seats within each canton
- Composition
- Single judges and panels; some cantons use lay judges.
- Languages
- German, French, Italian
Where an appeal goes next
Appeal to the cantonal high court.
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