Right to a fair trial
The guarantee that civil and criminal proceedings are conducted by an independent tribunal with equality, due process, and effective defence rights.
The right to a fair trial secures basic procedural guarantees before courts and, where applicable, other adjudicatory bodies. It includes access to a tribunal, independence and impartiality, equality of arms, the right to be heard, reasoned decisions, public hearings subject to justified exceptions, and timely proceedings. In criminal matters it also covers the presumption of innocence, defence rights and interpretation where needed. Swiss constitutional law, procedural codes and European human rights standards all shape these protections.