Summary

On 13 March 2026, the Federal Council opened the consultation on the Ordinance on Electronic Communication in Judicial and Administrative Proceedings (VEKJ). The ordinance regulates the establishment and operation of a digital communication platform for electronic legal proceedings at the federal level. The consultation period runs until 22 June 2026 and is intended to enable the digitalization of all criminal, civil and administrative court proceedings of the Confederation.

Persons

No individuals named.

Topics

  • Digitalization of Justice
  • E-Government
  • Federated Cooperation
  • Legal Proceedings
  • Administrative Proceedings

Clarus Lead

The Federal Council is creating the regulatory foundation for a unified digital platform in legal proceedings. The VEKJ Ordinance regulates central aspects such as cost distribution between the Confederation and cantons, user identification and permitted document formats. For decision-makers in justice and administration, this represents a milestone in the digitalization strategy – with clear implementation requirements by mid-2026.

Detailed Summary

Switzerland is digitalizing its judicial system: in future, criminal, civil and administrative court proceedings of the Confederation are to be handled entirely via a central digital platform. The legal basis is the Federal Act on Platforms for Electronic Communication (BEKJ), the first part of which came into force on 1 October 2025. The ordinance now subject to consultation specifies the implementation.

The VEKJ addresses four critical implementation questions: First, cost sharing between the Confederation and cantons – a core federal issue. Second, user authentication to ensure data protection and legal certainty. Third, technical standards for document transmission. Fourth, organizational structure: the Confederation and at least 18 cantons establish a corporation under public law, whose establishment work is already underway. The consultation until 22 June 2026 gives stakeholders time to raise concerns and submit optimization suggestions.

Key Statements

  • Federal Council opens consultation on ordinance for digital judicial communication platform (until 22 June 2026)
  • Platform is to digitalize all criminal, civil and administrative court proceedings of the Confederation
  • Ordinance regulates cost distribution, user authentication and document formats
  • Corporation under public law (Confederation + at least 18 cantons) to be established; work underway
  • First part of legislation (BEKJ) already in force since 1 October 2025

Critical Questions

  1. Data Quality & Validation: What technical standards and security certifications are provided for in the VEKJ for the platform infrastructure, and how will compliance be verified?

  2. Conflicts of Interest & Incentives: How will it be ensured that cost distribution between the Confederation and cantons is fair and that smaller cantons are not disadvantaged?

  3. Causality & Alternatives: Why was a central platform chosen instead of decentralized cantonal solutions with interfaces? Which scenarios were evaluated?

  4. Feasibility & Risks: What transition periods apply to existing proceedings, and how will compatibility issues with older systems be handled?

  5. Evidence: How will the success of digitalization be measured (e.g. duration of proceedings, cost savings, user acceptance)?

  6. Federal Coordination: What incentives or obligations exist for cantons to join the corporation under public law?

Source Directory

Primary Source: Federal Council press release – Communication platform for electronic legal proceedings – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/igA6sjbhp77C

Verification Status: ✓ 13.03.2026

This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: 13.03.2026