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Here’s a comparison of the famous ceiling as it looked in back in the day, and how it looked in the mid-1800s (a couple hundred years after the Court of Star Chamber itself had ceased to exist):
It’s a loaded word, but the root is the same as that of “inquiry” – the goal is to try to figure out what happened!
One corollary here is that adversarial systems like ours don’t always care what actually happened. It’s interesting that under our system, a criminal could be correctly found guilty of a crime, even if the prosecution’s argument for HOW it happened turns out to be incorrect.
Yes, but that can happen under an inquisitorial system as well. Even the most thorough inquest could get a correct conclusion while getting any number of the particulars wrong.
Lol, wrong inquisition. Though the Torquemada outfit doesn’t help with that. Really the Star Chamber is one of those “It sounded good at the time” and “Best intentions” ideas rolled up into one. It was meant to be an appeals court, which I believe (other than by going to the King himself) was an entirely new concept. It was also a way to go after those considered untouchable by the regular courts (something we could use today, I’m looking at you “Dream Team” defense lawyers). It also had the ability to convict those that while following the letter of the law, broke the spirit of it into little chunks. All things that sound like good ideas. Until people got involved in it.
Star Chamber ftw!
Here’s a comparison of the famous ceiling as it looked in back in the day, and how it looked in the mid-1800s (a couple hundred years after the Court of Star Chamber itself had ceased to exist):
I think you meant “seen” instead of “seem” there at the lower left.
I can’t… words. No sleep.
“inquisitorial system” i didnt expect that.
It’s a loaded word, but the root is the same as that of “inquiry” – the goal is to try to figure out what happened!
One corollary here is that adversarial systems like ours don’t always care what actually happened. It’s interesting that under our system, a criminal could be correctly found guilty of a crime, even if the prosecution’s argument for HOW it happened turns out to be incorrect.
Yes, but that can happen under an inquisitorial system as well. Even the most thorough inquest could get a correct conclusion while getting any number of the particulars wrong.
I believe the moral of the story is that neither system is greater than those running it.
For all X and Y, X is the worst form of Y – except for all of the other forms that have been tried from time to time.
nobody expects it! ;)
Well, it’s chief weapon is surprise.
Lol, wrong inquisition. Though the Torquemada outfit doesn’t help with that. Really the Star Chamber is one of those “It sounded good at the time” and “Best intentions” ideas rolled up into one. It was meant to be an appeals court, which I believe (other than by going to the King himself) was an entirely new concept. It was also a way to go after those considered untouchable by the regular courts (something we could use today, I’m looking at you “Dream Team” defense lawyers). It also had the ability to convict those that while following the letter of the law, broke the spirit of it into little chunks. All things that sound like good ideas. Until people got involved in it.
i know, i know. i just couldn’t help myself :D back to historical accuracy…
I love how the king stops the guy with a hand on his midriff, but he holds back the woman with a hand on her chest-it’s good to be the king!