History

12 March 2000
Swiss voters and the cantons approve the new Article 191a of the Federal Constitution, allowing for the creation of new federal courts in addition to the Federal Supreme Court, which is based in Lausanne. The Federal Supreme Court was established under the Federal Constitution of 1874, replacing the previous Federal Supreme Court created under the Federal Constitution of 1848, which had no permanent seat.

1 January 2002
The 22 December 1999 revision of the Swiss Criminal Code comes into force, setting out new federal powers in fighting organised crime and economic crime.

21 June 2002
The Federal Assembly passes the Federal Act on the Seat of the Federal Criminal Court and the Federal Administrative Court, which designates their seats as Bellinzona and St Gallen respectively.

4 October 2002
The Federal Assembly passes the Federal Criminal Court Act.

1 October 2003
The Federal Assembly elects the first 11 judges of the Federal Criminal Court.

1 April 2004
The Federal Criminal Court is established, and is initially based in temporary premises until the completion of its permanent home. Hearings are held in a courtroom at the Palazzo Pretorio in Bellinzona. The Court’s proceedings are governed under the Federal Act of 15 June 1934 on the Administration of Federal Criminal Justice (now repealed).

17 June 2005
The Federal Assembly passes the Federal Supreme Court Act (FSCA, SR 173.110) and the Federal Administrative Court Act (FACA, SR 173.32), which grant the Federal Criminal Court new jurisdiction over international mutual assistance in criminal matters. The referendum period expires unused on 6 October 2005.

1 March 2006
The Federal Council determines that the Federal Supreme Court Act (FSCA, SR 173.110) and the Federal Administrative Court Act (FACA, SR 173.32) shall enter into force on 1 January 2007.

1 January 2007
A second Appeals Chamber is inaugurated as a result of the FCC's new jurisdiction over international mutual assistance in criminal matters.

19 March 2010
The Federal Assembly passes the Criminal Justice Authorities Act (CJAA, SR 173.71), which sets out the framework of all federal criminal justice authorities (including the Federal Criminal Police and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland) and repeals the Federal Criminal Court Act.

1 January 2011
With the coming into force of the Swiss Criminal Procedure Code (CrimPC, SR 312) and the Criminal Justice Authorities Act (CJAA, SR 173.71), the Federal Act of 15 June 1934 on the Administration of Federal Criminal Justice and the Federal Act of 4 October 2002 on the Federal Criminal Court are repealed.

1 January 2012
The two Appeals Chambers are merged together.

25 October 2013
Inauguration of the definitive seat of the Federal Criminal Court, located in viale Stefano Franscini 7 a Bellinzona.

17 March 2017
Completion of the parliamentary process to revise the Criminal Justice Authorities Act.

1 January 2019
The new Higher Appeals Chamber begins its work.