Category:Star-chamber

Star"-cham`ber, n. Etym: [so called (as conjectured by blackstone) From being held in a room at the exchequer where the chests Containing certain jewish comtracts and obligations called starrs (from the heb. shetar, pron. shtar) were kept; or from the stars with Which the ceiling is supposed to have been decorated.] (eng. Hist.)

Defn: an ancient high court exercising jurisdiction in certain cases, Mainly criminal, which sat without the intervention of a jury. It Consisted of the king's council, or of the privy council only with The addition of certain judges. It could proceed on mere rumor or Examine witnesses; it could apply torture. It was abolished by the Long parliament in 1641. Encyc. Brit.