Sarah Summers

Prof. Dr. Sarah Summers is a tenured Professor of Criminal Law, Criminal Procedure, and Criminology at the Faculty of Law, University of Zurich. She holds a Dr. iur. from Zurich (2006) and an LL.B (Hons) from Glasgow (2000).

• Director of the Digital Society Initiative (DSI)
• Co-editor of Quaestio Facti: International Journal on Evidential Reasoning and International Journal of Evidence and Proof
• Member of the Criminal Institute of Zurich, Public Prosecutor's Office Supervisory Commission of Basel-Stadt, and Board of Trustees of kihz (University of Zurich and ETH Zurich)

Research Interests focus on criminal justice systems, human rights in criminal law, and normative principles of rule of law. Her work bridges empirical analysis with comparative legal studies, particularly between Common Law and Civil Law traditions.

Recent Publications emphasize fair trial standards, sentencing ethics, and digital regulation in criminal law. She has co-authored leading commentaries on Swiss Criminal Procedure Law and comparative EU criminal law frameworks.

• Scientific Awards: SNSF Professor (Swiss National Science Foundation, 2012-2017)

Advising & Collaborations: Supervised scholars such as Elena Biaggini, David Studer, and Kristof Reber, with ongoing projects on human rights in criminal defense and procedural fairness.