Today, one often hears complaints about the problems with certain judicial systems. The law, to some, feels skewed in favor of the wealthy and the famous. Even if this is not the case, to those who are on the “lower” end of the sociological spectrum, it can feel this way.
Perhaps this is why up until just before the first English Civil War (1642-1646), England had a unique way of dealing with this very problem – The Star Chamber.
Why Was it Called The Star Chamber?
Historians are not entirely agreed upon where the Star Chamber got its name, though there are a couple likely responses to this question: In England prior to the expulsion of the Jews in 1290 by Edward I (just one more historical event that humanity should universally condemn), whenever a formal contract was written between a Jew and a Christian, that contract was known as a Starr. These contracts were reproduced in triplicate, with one copy given to each of the respective parties, and a third held in a specific chamber known as a Starr Chamber. Is there a connection? No one really knows. An alternate explanation (and the one which seems more commonly believed by historians) says that the Star Chamber was named such because it may have had stars painted on its ceiling.
The Star Chamber’s Origins
The Star Chamber was officially instituted and given its power under the reign of Henry VII in 1487. In reality, it was simply an extension of the King's personal council – a new court, made up of many different types of judges and counselors throughout England. Its purpose was to oversee the lower courts of the land (judging if the actions taken by such courts were, indeed, fair and legal, much like America’s Supreme Court), as well as to hear individual cases by appeal (also like the Supreme Court).
This court was given the power to exert several types of remuneration for crimes, though it could not dole out executions. In some sense, this was a form of what today would be called “checks and balances” to prevent the court from wielding too lofty a power.
The thing which made the Star Chamber truly unique was the fact that one of its purposes (among a great many) was to ensure that even the most prominent of England's citizens - politicians, celebrities, what have you – were treated equally in terms of law enforcement. So while lesser courts might be hesitant to convict a Lord of a crime, the Star Court might be much more willing to take another look at the case.
Abuse of Power and Eventual Demise
Like most things of antiquity, that Star Chamber of old was not without its negative aspects. For with different monarchies ruling England, the chamber's focus was continually changing. During the reign of Henry VIII (1509-1547), the Star Chamber was used by him to bring action against anyone opposing his laws. James I (1603-1625) used the court a great deal to take action against those accused of sedition (speaking out against the government).
By the time of the reign of James I's son, Charles I (1625-1649), the Star Chamber had reached the peak of its influence and power. Charles, deciding not to call upon Parliament during his reign (known as the eleven years of Personal Rule), used the Star Chamber instead.
During the peak of its power, the Star Chamber was viewed by the lower classes of England as being a vestige of hope for the little people against those with power, but those with power (specifically those in Parliament) saw only its abuse during the reigns of James I and Charles I. Parliament, once finally convened again, took the opportunity to dissolve the Star Chamber once and for all in 1642.
That same year that the Star Chamber disappeared forever (though the titular building itself was not destroyed until 1806), was the year that accusations of the chamber's abuse became one of the instigators of those who executed Charles I during the Civil War which began in November.
Legacy of the Star Chamber
At worst, the Star Chamber can be seen as a failed, yet somewhat noble, experiment in enforcing the law. It served as a court for those crimes which contained vagaries or were otherwise unfit for other courts of the land. It was a sort of “catch all” for crimes and civil actions alike. Perhaps it was a good idea gone bad due to lack of checks on the power of the sovereign, or perhaps it was doomed from the start.
It is questions like these that show why the Star Chamber continues to be studied by historians to this day.
References:
Ross, David. “The Court of Star Chamber.”
“Star Chamber.” Luminarium Encyclopedia
