Public competition for 6 military magistrates: entry into the military judiciary, announced by the Ministry of Defense

The Ministry of Defense has announced a public competition, based on qualifications, for six positions as military magistrate in the military judiciary. Applications must be submitted by 11:59 PM on October 1, 2026. This procedure is managed through the inPA portal and is open to serving ordinary magistrates appointed through competitive examinations.

What is it about

The call for applications, published in the Official Journal No. 67 of September 1, 2026, aims to introduce six military magistrates to the legal profession of the Italian Armed Forces. The procedure is classified as a public competition based on qualifications, with no written or oral tests required at this stage, and evaluation is based on the overall qualifications presented.

The professional figure

A military magistrate is a professional magistrate who works within the military justice system. They may hold adjudicatory positions, for example in military tribunals or appellate/supervisory bodies, or may serve as a prosecutor in military prosecutor's offices. Typical required skills include a solid understanding of criminal and procedural law, military regulations, and relevant case law, as well as the ability to analyze documents and draft legal decisions. This position requires independent judgment and professional accountability, in a sector that operates within the judicial system of the State and the Armed Forces.

This general description clearly distinguishes ordinary activities from any specific assignments that may arise with the performance of duties and assignment to military judicial offices.

Main requirements

The requirements for participation are established by the announcement and require the possession of specific qualities and qualifications:

• Be ordinary magistrates in service and appointed ordinary magistrates following a competitive examination.
• Age: not to exceed 40 years, except as otherwise provided in the relevant articles; in any case, not to exceed 45 years.
• Possess a law degree of at least four years' duration.
• Having obtained the assessment of suitability for the assignment of functions after a period of internship (the announcement allows participation even if the formal provision has not yet been completed at the time of application, subject to official verification).
• Declare your Italian citizenship, personal details, tax code, residence/domicile, telephone number, and certified email address; enjoy full civil and political rights.
• Not to have been removed, dismissed, dismissed, or fired from a public administration position for any of the reasons indicated in the announcement.
• Declare the absence of criminal convictions or known criminal proceedings, as well as the absence of any impediments.
• Be physically fit for the job and be in compliance with military service obligations.
• Have irreproachable conduct as provided by state law.
• Fully accept the conditions of the tender, including the processing of personal data.

The full text of the announcement also mentions other formalities, such as any additional professional assessments and the possible availability of additional qualifications that may contribute to the final score.

Contract, locations and prospects

This position is an appointment to the military judiciary, meaning a permanent position within this special category of the judicial system. The announcement does not specify a private contract or collective bargaining agreement, nor does it specify a single assignment location; service locations and assignments are determined based on the needs of military judicial offices.

Regarding compensation, however, the notice does not provide an estimate or salary figure. This type of information is often provided in detailed documents or subsequent contracts, but is not present in the text published in the Official Journal.

How the selection works

The selection process is based on qualifications: there are no exams at this stage, as indicated in the announcement. The examining committee will be appointed by decree of the Director General of the General Directorate for Civilian Personnel, after consulting the Military Judiciary Council. The maximum score for qualifications is 40 points, and the final ranking will identify the winners from among the admitted candidates.

The main components of the score include:

• Length of service in the ordinary judiciary: up to 10 points (1 point for each year or fraction exceeding six months).
• Bachelor's degree: 3 points for 110/110; 5 points for 110/110 with honors.
• Legal publications: up to 8 points, with differentiated scores for monographs, contributions to volumes, articles, and case notes.
• Professional and cultural qualifications: up to 8 points (e.g., qualifications, specializations, careers) and qualifications relating to relevant competitions or appointments.
• Public competition and other qualifications: up to 8 points.
• Compulsory or voluntary military service: 1 point for at least 10 months.

The final ranking, including successful and eligible candidates, is approved by ministerial decree and published on the Ministry of Defense website; a notice is also available on INPA. In the event of a tie, the candidate with the highest ranking among ordinary magistrates will prevail, and preference will be given to candidates in accordance with current regulations.

Deadline and how to apply

Application deadline: October 1, 2026, at 23:59 PM. Applications must be submitted exclusively online through the INPA portal (inpa.gov.it), authenticating with SPID, CIE, CNS, or eIDAS. Registration on the portal and a personal certified email address (PEC) or digital address are required to submit the application and any attachments. The INPA form dedicated to the call for applications includes the application address and indicates that, if necessary, attachments can also be submitted in paper format by the deadline if they exceed the size limits (e.g., publication files larger than 20 MB).

Once the application has been submitted, communications regarding the competition will be sent to the certified email address provided by the candidate. The results of the qualification assessment and the announcement of the winners will be published on the Ministry of Defense's official website and, incidentally, on the INPA website.

What to know before submitting your application

Before submitting your application, it is useful to check some key elements of the announcement:

• Check that you meet the official requirements, in particular membership of the group of ordinary magistrates in service and the age limits.
• Prepare the necessary documentation for the score: law degree, any legal publications, professional qualifications, and any other relevant qualifications.
• Prepare a substitute declaration for qualifications and, if necessary, content to be proposed to the commission.
• Please check the file size compatibility of your submitted documents; if they exceed 20 MB for publications, you can submit your documentation in paper format by the deadline.
• Please check the Ministry of Defense website and the INPA website for updates and notices, including the dates of the commission's first meeting, and any new announcements.

The procedure is not intended for all law graduates: this specific procedure is reserved for serving ordinary magistrates appointed through competitive examinations. A possible second phase scenario could involve further steps only if vacancies persist, but it is not an integral part of the announcement analyzed here.

In short, this is a concrete opportunity for those who are already serving as ordinary magistrates and wish to transfer to the military judiciary. The application process is based on qualifications, with no exams at this stage, and is completed through an online application process at INPA by a specific deadline.

Source of the offer: Official Journal – 4th Special Series Competitions and Exams.