Stab-chamber

Stab-chamber in United Kingdom

Meaning of Stab-chamber

The following is an old definition of Stab-chamber [1]: The room or chamber in which were originally kept the chests containing starra or starrs (Heb. shetelr): the contracts or covenants of the Jews; no starr being valid unless deposited in the legal repository. After the Jews were expelled from England the starr-chamber was used by the king’s council sitting in their judicial capacity. Later, the room was designated as the camera-stellata. Court of star-chamber. An ancient English court, remodeled by 3 Hen. VII (1488), and 21 Hen. VIII (1530). The court repressed the turbulence of the nobility and gentry in the provinces, and supplied a court for matters which, being of novel origin, were unprovided for by the existing tribunals; such as riots, perjury, misbehavior of sheriffs, and offenses against proclamations in ecclesiastical matters. The court enhanced the royal authority by supplying it with speedy and effective machinery. It acted without the assistance of a jury. The abuses to which its processes were liable led to its abolition in 1640, by 16 Char. I, c. 10.

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Notes and References

  1. Concept of Stab-chamber provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)

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