star-chamber

Star chamber \Star" cham`ber\, Star-chamber
\Star"-cham`ber\(st[aum]r"ch[=a]m`b[~e]r), n. [So called (as
   conjectured by Blackstone) from being held in a room at the
   Exchequer where the chests containing certain Jewish
   contracts 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.]
   1. (Eng. Hist.) 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.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. Hence: (Metaphorical) Any court, committee, or other
      tribunal which exercises arbitrary and unaccountable
      power, or uses unfair or illegal methods, in investigation
      or judgment of persons.
      [PJC]