Swiss Criminal Conviction Upheld on Basis of Foreign Order Violative of Swiss Public Order

On July 10, 1984, the Swiss Supreme Court upheld a conviction of a Swiss citizen who had violated a California civil order and thereby committed an offense under Swiss criminal law.  Although the criminal conviction was based on a civil order, the decision has far-reaching effects in the area of international enforcement.  The judgment is significant because the Court uses a foreign order in spite of its incompatibility with Swiss public order for a criminal conviction.