Star Chamber

Definition

(Loaded noun and adjective; originally positive, now generally pejorative.) In English history (about 1400 to 1641): a special court initially regarded as flexible/efficient/useful to prosecute offenses that for various reasons could not be effectively handled by regular courts. But the Star Chamber eventually became seen as as pro-monarchial, arbitrary, vengeful, subjective, above the law it was supposed to serve, evil - in short, not warm and fuzzy.