What was the Star Chamber?
The Star Chamber was a special British Court which existed from the 15th through the 17th centuries. The judges in the Star Chamber were appointed by the monarch, with advisers coming from the ruler’s privy counselors. While the Star Chamber may have been an effective tool for justice initially, it was ultimately used as a tool by British monarchs who were struggling to retain control of the country, and it came to be a topic of controversy due to its highly secret proceedings and summary judgments offered without the mediation of a jury. As a result, the Star Chamber was abolished in 1641 by an act of parliament.
