Star Chamber was an English court of law during the 1500's and 1600's. It tried people who were too powerful to be brought before the ordinary, common-law courts. The Star Chamber consisted of men from the King's Council, a group of royal advisers. It passed judgment without trial by jury. The court was so named because it held sessions in the Star Chamber of Westminster Palace. Today, the term star chamber refers to an unregulated, secret meeting of any court of justice or official organization.