Although most often associated with notaries, in Spanish the word "fe pública" refers to anyone authorized to "ejercer la fe pública" (i.e., anyone authorized to certify documents as authentic). Thus there is "fe pública notarial," "fe pública judicial," "fe pública registral," "fe pública administrativa," etc. and "fedetarios (públicos)" include not only notaries, but also court clerks, registrars, certain authorized civil servants, and if certification is required in a foreign country, the local consul "ejerce la fe pública" in his jurisdiction. Thus, as used in this context "fe pública judicial" refers to the court clerk's (secretario judicial's) power to certify documents, and since this is part of a seal, perhaps it would be appropriate to interpret the seal as reading "(Justice of the) Peace Court of Barcelona; Judicial Certification Service; Office of the Court Clerk".


Here is a definition of "fe pública" from "Diccionario Jurídico Elemental" (Granada: Comares, 2002):

"Fe Pública-Autoridad legítima atribuida a notarios, agentes de cambio y bolsa, cónsules y secretarios de juzgados, tribunales y otros institutos oficiales para que los documentos que autorizan en debida forma sean considerados como auténticos."