The Court of Star Chamber in England was significant because it represented a mechanism of royal justice that bypassed traditional legal processes, often dealing with cases involving powerful nobles and political dissenters. Established in the late 15th century, it operated without a jury and aimed to curb corruption and abuse by local authorities, thus strengthening the monarchy's control. However, its practices, including the use of torture and secret hearings, led to criticism and its eventual dissolution by the Long Parliament in the 1640s as part of a broader reform of the legal system.