Up until the middle of the 1600’s (1642to be exact) the United Kingdom (I.e. Britain) had a court called the “star chamber” whose members were not made public, whose hearings were behind closed doors and no witnesses were heard from!

Some of my American colleagues are worried that the AAA Committee looking into the Hunton fiasco is a bit like the Star Chamber. Indeed one US based researcher praised JAR for the openness of its procedures!! (I hope with tongue planted firmly in cheek).

Nonetheless the AAA brain trust could make it a lot clearer than they have. After all it is not exactly rocket science we are dealing with here. As CAR editor I simply looked up the procedures recommended by the Committee ob Publication Ethics and followed them. Pretty simple really!!!