Rome, February 26 – The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating complaints filed by several candidates who participated in the 2024 notary competition. The complaints, currently under review by magistrates specializing in crimes against public administration, stem from the unauthorized online publication of internal comments and evaluations made by the examining commission.
Confidential Comments Leaked Online
The controversy first emerged after confidential notes and judgments concerning candidates for the written examination were briefly posted online. These notes, intended for the approximately 400 available notary positions across Italy, included comments such as “genius” and “saved on civil law,” alongside references to religious figures like Saint Benjamin, Saint Catherine of Sweden, and an annotation about the Annunciation of the Lord.
It has been clarified that the document containing these comments was uploaded to the Notariat’s intranet, accessible only to notaries, and not to the public website. However, its brief appearance led to widespread concern among candidates and the public.
Ministry of Justice Requests Report
In response to the incident, the Ministry of Justice has formally requested a detailed report from the President of the examining commission. While the Ministry of Justice is responsible for the administrative and logistical management of the State examination, it does not exert control or oversight over the commission’s work.
The examining commission itself is a diverse body, chaired by a Supreme Court magistrate and comprising nine magistrates, nine notaries, and six university professors. Their collective responsibility is to ensure the fairness and integrity of the selection process for aspiring notaries.
Potential Criminal Profiles Under Evaluation
The magistrates of the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office are now tasked with evaluating whether any criminal profiles can be identified from the complaints and the circumstances surrounding the leak. The focus of their investigation will be to determine if any laws related to public administration have been violated.
The incident has raised questions about the security protocols for sensitive information within public competition processes and the potential impact on the credibility of such examinations. Candidates are awaiting the outcome of the investigation, hoping for clarity and assurance regarding the fairness of the competition.
The 2024 notary competition aims to fill approximately 400 positions, making the integrity of its selection process paramount for the future of the notary profession in Italy.
Further updates will be provided as the investigation by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office progresses.
Source: https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cronaca/2026/02/26/concorso-dei-notai-al-vaglio-della-procura-di-roma-denunce-candidati_c781e9e2-472f-4475-b15e-602931f71c79.html
