Abstract

Although the relationship between politics and magistracy has been extensively studied, the role played by the magistrates appointed during the liberal period as general secretaries and principal private secretaries in the Ministry of Justice is still awaiting full evaluation. During the government of the so-called Destra storica (1861-1876), the general secretaries – close collaborators of the ministers later replaced by the undersecretaries – were selected among the magistrates; later on the same office was held by the deputies. Enabled as they were to decide on the magistrates' appointment and transfer, the general secretaries played a key role during this period until 1880, when a proper consultative commission was set up. As regards the Cabinet, permanently established since 1876, it performed its two most significant duties in judicial statistics and legislative studies.