Federica De Rossa appointed Federal Court Judge
Institutional Communication Service
28 September 2022
She is the first woman from Ticino to ascend to the position of Ordinary Judge of the Federal Supreme Court. USI Professor Federica De Rossa was elected today in Bern by the United Federal Assembly with 212 votes out of 217 valid ballots. On 15 September, the Parliament's Judicial Committee made a recommendation to this effect, which had received the support of all parliamentary groups. In October, the Plenum of Judges will assign her to one of the Courts, and on 1 January 2023, she will begin her work as an Ordinary Judge at the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne.
"I am very excited and honoured by the proof of esteem and trust I received today from the Federal Assembly. However, I am also aware of this position's great responsibility. I will do my best to honour it, " states USI Law Institute Director Professor Federica De Rossa. "The fact that I am the first Italian-speaking female judge to enter the Federal Supreme Court has a special value for me. Every day, in my professional and private life, I try to make a small contribution to the path towards equality and the reconciliation of family and work. I believe my election today is proof that preparation, persistence and a dash of courage open up opportunities that sometimes we don't even dare to believe in. I am also very grateful to USI for contributing to my professional and personal growth."
"We are very pleased with the milestone reached today by Professor De Rossa", emphasises USI Deputy Rector Professor Lorenzo Cantoni. "Her path has been one of great academic excellence. First, she arrived at USI as a PostDoc researcher, then became Associate Professor and ultimately Director of the Law Institute. Now Professor De Rossa puts her expertise at the service of the country in a key role of great responsibility."
Federica De Rossa earned her law degree from the University of Freiburg, where she began her academic career as an assistant professor and researcher. She obtained a Doctorate in Law also from the University of Fribourg, receiving the Prix Vigener award in 2010. After becoming a certified lawyer and practising in a law firm, she then decided to continue her academic career as a PostDoc researcher at USI, where she is now an associate professor of Economic Law at the Faculty of Economics and where, since 2017, she has headed the Law Institute. In 2014, Prof. De Rossa was elected as an alternate judge at the Federal Supreme Court in Lausanne (Second Public Law Division).