star chambers

Star chambers are secretive tribunals or proceedings where decisions are made without transparency, accountability, or due process.

The term comes from a 15th-century English court that met in a room decorated with stars—initially a check on powerful nobles, it became notorious for arbitrary rulings and was abolished in 1641.

Now applied to any closed-door body that renders judgment without proper oversight: The disciplinary committee operated like a star chamber, never revealing its evidence.