Strictly, a court of justice, but used in
English law for a body appointed by the
government to arbitrate in disputes, or
investigate certain matters. Tribunals
usually consist of a lawyer as chair, sitting
with two lay assessors. In English law, there
are various kinds of tribunal. Administrative
tribunals deal with claims and disputes about
rights and duties under statutory schemes;
for example, industrial tribunals (dealing
with employment rights, such as unfair
dismissal claims) and rent tribunals (fixing
fair rents for protected tenants). Domestic
tribunals are the internal disciplinary
bodies of organizations such as professional
bodies and trade unions. Tribunals of inquiry
are set up by the government to investigate
matters of public concern; for example, the
King's Cross Fire Disaster Inquiry and the
Cleveland Child Abuse Inquiry 1988.