Criminal law

Criminal courts In Switzerland, the organisation of the courts and their jurisdiction is governed by 27 different laws! This is because each canton has the sovereign right to set up its own judicial system, which may differ from one canton to another. And then there's the organisation...

Crossing a white line by bike " Last week, I crossed a white line in a locality by turning left with my bike to leave the main road. I've been doing this for years and didn't realise that the line was continuous and that I was supposed to be going...

Translator and interrogation Swiss criminal procedure is governed by a number of fundamental principles that benefit defendants in particular. In particular, in the context of a police interrogation as described in your question, the right to request the assistance of a translator or interpreter is guaranteed by article 158 of the Code of Criminal Procedure...

Not every commission is worth taking My ex-husband is very keen to pay our children's pensions, even though I know he has the means to do so. He is active in the construction industry and I have proof that he receives commission from the companies to which he entrusts work...

The American system and the Swiss system " This week, I read a report in the press about the Strauss-Kahn affair, in which it was explained that the American judicial system is "adversarial", unlike the Swiss system, which is "inquisitorial", thanks to the work of the investigating judges, who seek evidence for both the prosecution and the...

Am I obliged to testify against my husband? I'd like to know if I'm obliged to testify against my husband, who has been summoned to appear in court". Sylvie, Geneva First of all, you need to know what type of proceedings are involved. If it's a civil case, the Geneva law of civil procedure...

Child car seat Article 57 of the Federal Road Traffic Act allows the Federal Council to require car occupants to use restraint systems such as seat belts. Our government made use of this delegation of powers a long time ago, by enacting Article 3a of the Ordinance on...

Doctor-patient confidentiality Article 321 of the Criminal Code punishes breaches of professional confidentiality. Certain professionals, such as doctors, lawyers and clergymen, are bound by professional secrecy, which means that they cannot reveal facts learned in the exercise of their profession.In addition to the criminal penalties, a doctor...

Drive young, but carefully I'll soon be a learner driver and, following a discussion with some friends, I'm wondering exactly what the conditions are for withdrawing a trial driving licence in the event of a breach of the Highway Code, and what the consequences of such a withdrawal are: for example, do you have to redo...