Liechtenstein’s Supreme Court Welcomes First Viennese Judge in Historic Appointment
Liechtenstein’s Princely Supreme Court has welcomed a new judge from Austria. Martin Spitzer, a 46-year-old law professor, was sworn in on 1 December 2022. His appointment marks the first time a legal scholar from the University of Vienna of Economics and Business (WU) has joined the tiny principality’s highest bench.
The Princely Supreme Court holds the highest judicial authority in Liechtenstein, overseeing civil, criminal, and administrative cases. Until 1922, the court operated from Innsbruck, Austria, as the Imperial-Royal Appellate Court for Tyrol and Vorarlberg. After relocating to Liechtenstein, it became the country’s final court of appeal.
Spitzer earned his doctorate from the University of Vienna in 2003 and completed his habilitation in 2012. Since 2011, he has taught civil law and civil procedure at WU, where he also heads the Institute for Civil Law and Civil Procedure. His appointment is a first for the university, as no WU legal scholar has previously held a senior judicial position abroad.
From 2026, the court will expand under judicial reforms. Instead of a single panel, it will split into two senates, each with three judges. Liechtenstein, home to just 40,000 people, remains the world’s sixth-smallest state.
Spitzer’s role begins as the court prepares for structural changes. His background in civil law and academic leadership adds to the bench’s expertise. The principality’s highest court now includes its first judge from a Viennese university.
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