Judges' Fees Act (JFA) (LOM)

[2] 1 The annual remuneration of magistrates is established as follows

1. Judges of the Court of Appeal: fr. 214’908.00

2. Prosecutor General: fr. 213’242.00

3. Deputy Prosecutor Generals: fr. 208’244.00

4. Judges of Coercive Measures: fr. 208’244.00

5. Public Prosecutors: fr. 204’912.00

6. Deputy Public Prosecutors: fr. 166’595.00

7. Justices of the Peace, President of the Criminal Court of First Instance, President of the Expropriation Tribunal and Juvenile Magistrate: fr. 197’415.00

8. Deputy Juvenile Magistrate and Assistant Justice of the Peace: fr. 166'595.00

9. … [3]

2 Magistrates' salaries are adjusted to the evolution of the national consumer price index in accordance with Articles 5 and 44 of the LStip.

3 The bonus for exceptional performance under Article 18 of the LStip is excluded.

[2] Article amended by Law of 23.1.2017; in force since 1.1.2018 - BU 2017, 90; previous amendments: BU 1973, 105; BU 1986, 10; BU 1987, 376; BU 1991, 216; BU 1992, 349; BU 2000, 282; BU 2002, 128; BU 2006, 280; BU 2007, 12; BU 2010, 252 and 318.

[3] Paragraph amended by Law of 17.11.2025; in force since 1.3.2026 - BU 2026, 45; previous amendment: BU 2025, 338.

[4] Magistrates travelling for service reasons shall receive the allowances provided for State employees, with the right, for travel allowance, to the cost of a 1st class ticket by rail and by boat.

**Allowances [5]**

**[4] Art. amended by L 15.3.1995; in force since 1.1.1996 - BU 1995, 237 and 297; previous amendment: BU 1987, 376.**

**[5] Marginal note amended by L 20.4.2010; in force since 1.1.2011 - BU 2010, 252.**

[6] The Deputy Prosecutor General is entitled to the fee of the Prosecutor General if they substitute the latter for a continuous period exceeding one month.

[6] Art. amended by L 20.4.2010; in force from 1.1.2011 - BU 2010, 252.

[7] **1** The substitute judges of the Court of Appeal, the president and his non-magistrate substitute, and the members and their substitutes of the Juvenile Court are entitled, in addition to the reimbursement of travel expenses, to a per diem allowance of CHF 400.-- for each full day of work and CHF 200.-- for each half day. [8]

**2** If they are self-employed professionals, they receive a per diem allowance of CHF 800.-- or CHF 400.-- for each half day, respectively.

**3** Travel expenses correspond to the cost of a first-class train ticket.

**4** The provisions of this article apply by analogy to the members of the Notarial Disciplinary Board, the examination commissions for the legal and notarial professions, the non-magistrate members of the Judicial Council, as well as the members of the Independent Expert Commission, responsible for the examination and preliminary opinion on candidacies for the election of magistrates appointed by parliament. [9]

[7] Art. amended by L 26.6.2000; in force since 25.8.2000 - BU 2000, 285.

[8] Para. amended by L 24.6.2010; in force since 1.1.2011 - BU 2010, 333; previous amendment: BU 2007, 12.

[9] Para. amended by L 16.9.2002; in force since 8.11.2002 - BU 2002, 374.

[10] The Justices of the Peace receive the following annual allowances, based on the number of inhabitants in their respective district, according to the results of the last federal population census

up to

5,000

inhabitants

fr. 7,500.-

5,001 -

10,000

inhabitants

fr. 9,500.-

10,001 -

15,000

inhabitants

fr. 13,000.-

15,001 -

20,000

inhabitants

fr. 18,500.-

over

20,000

inhabitants

fr. 23,500.-

The substitutes for the Justices of the Peace in districts with a population of less than 10,000 inhabitants receive an annual allowance of fr. 1,000.-; in those from 10,000 to 20,000 inhabitants fr. 1,900.-; in those with over 20,000 fr. 2,800.-. The Council of State may grant extraordinary allowances to the substitutes for the Justices of the Peace if justified by the particular intensity and duration of the activity performed.

[10] Art. amended by L 9.3.1987; in force since 1.1.1987 - BU 1987, 105; previous amendment: BU 1975, 87.

[11] Justices of the peace and their substitutes are granted an annual cost-of-living allowance, to be calculated according to the criteria applicable to state employees and to be paid at the end of the year.

[11] Art. modified by Law of 15.3.1995; in force since 1.1.1996 - BO 1995, 237 and 297; previous modification: BO 1975, 87.

[12] Commencing from the fifteenth year of activity and, subsequently, every five years, Justices of the Peace and their substitutes may be granted a gratification equal to one-tenth of the annual indemnity.

[12] Article amended by Law of 15.3.1995; in force since 1.1.1996 - BU 1995, 237 and 297; previous amendment: BU 1987, 105.

[14] The lay judges-jurors of first instance and appeal are entitled, in addition to the reimbursement of travel expenses, to an indemnity calculated according to the provisions on indemnities concerning the commissions appointed by the Council of State.

[14] Art. amended by L 15.12.2011; in force from 7.2.2012 - BU 2012, 72; previous amendments: BU 2010, 252 and 532.

The fees established by this law exclude any other emolument, indemnity, or participation not provided for by a law.

... [15]

[15] Article repealed by Law 15.3.1995; effective from 1.9.1995 (teachers) and 1.1.1996 (employees) - OJ 1995, 252.

1 The provisions contained in the State Personnel Act are applicable to the magistrates referred to in Art. 1 insofar as they concern: [16]

a) office hours, absences due to illness, accident, military service, and the payment of the related salary;

b) family allowances and survivor's benefits; [17]

c) insurance against professional and non-professional accidents;

d) the methods of payment of fees.

2 The time of appointment, the duration of the office, the attributions, as well as the disciplinary rules applicable to magistrates, are determined by special laws and regulations.

[16] Sentence modified by Law of 24.11.1987; in force since 1.1.1988 - Official Bulletin 1987, 376.

[17] Letter modified by Law of 29.1.2014; in force since 1.3.2014 - Official Bulletin 2014, 177; previous modifications: Official Bulletin 1987, 376; 1995, 237 and 297.

During the civil year, magistrates are entitled to one month of vacation. The arrangements for the distribution of vacations are set in agreement with the Department of Justice, for civil and criminal court magistrates, it being understood that they take place during judicial holidays.

Judges are not entitled to special allowances due to modifications of functions or duties introduced in the form of law.

[18] 1 In the event of non-re-election, the magistrate is entitled to a severance payment.

2 The severance payment corresponds to the last monthly fee multiplied by the number of full years of service rendered. [19]

3 If the term of office is at least 15 years and the magistrate has reached 45 years of age, instead of the benefits under the preceding paragraph, they are entitled to a pension corresponding to 2% of the insured fee with the Social Security Institute of Canton Ticino for each year of service rendered, up to a maximum of 60%. The pension is increased by a child supplement corresponding to 10% of the disability pension, and an AVS/AI substitute supplement corresponding to 80% of the maximum AVS pension, in accordance with the Institute's social security regulations.

4 The overall benefits provided for in para. 3 are paid until the age of 60.

[18] Art. amended by L 6.11.2012; in force since 1.1.2013 - BU 2012, 636; previous amendment: BU 1995, 237 and 297.

[19] Para. amended by L 29.1.2014; in force since 1.3.2014 - BU 2014, 177.

The present Act repeals that of November 9, 1954, on the fees of judicial magistrates and any other incompatible provision.

… [20]

[20] Article repealed by L 20.4.2010; in force from 1.1.2011 - BU 2010, 252; previous amendments: BU 1991, 216; BU 1995, 237.

After the expiration of the terms for the exercise of the right of referendum, the present law is published in the Official Bulletin of Laws and Executive Acts and comes into force with effect from January 1, 1972.

Published in OB 1973, 101.