Public sessions

Between ten and twenty public hearings open to all interested persons are held at the Court every year.

The time schedule, information and a short overview of the facts of the case to be heard are published on the website about a fortnight in advance.

The Federal Administrative Court distinguishes between two types of public hearings: public hearings of the parties and public judicial deliberations.

A public party hearing provides the parties, lower instances and possible other parties concerned the opportunity to express themselves in court on the matter in dispute. At the Federal Administrative Court, a public party hearing can only take place in proceedings relating to civil claims or criminal charges (see Article 6 of the European Convention on Human Rights). It is ordered by the instructing judge if a party demands such a hearing or if substantial public interests justify it (see Article 40 of Federal Administrative Court Act).

During a public deliberation on the judgment the judges decide on a matter in dispute. On this occasion the judges discuss their different arguments and finally vote on the outcome of the proceedings.  A public deliberation is conducted at the Federal Administrative Court under the following conditions (see Article 41 of Federal Administrative Court Act):

• A decision is taken by a panel of five judges;
• The panel of judges has been unable to agree on the issue at hand;
• The President of the Division orders a public deliberation or a judge on the panel requests such a public deliberation.

Before open hearings, the Federal Administrative Court publishes a brief summary of the facts of the case. We regret to be unable to provide any further information about ongoing proccedings beyond this summary.