Article 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides that the appellate judge has jurisdiction to deal with all aspects of a case (piena cognizione del giudizio). If an appeal is lodged solely by the accused, the judge may neither impose a harsher penalty nor withdraw any advantages granted.
http://www.worldlii.org/eu/cases/ECHR/2000/384.html

... The Italian judicial system, as one can see, slows Justice down. In Italy the investigative judges exercise great powers: powers that become a serious ...

I think that it's simply referring to jurisdiction in this case.

By the way, confirmed with Merriam-Webster