Arbitration proceedings are normally private and confidential, by consent of both parties, so the fact that it was "secret arbitration" isn't surprising. It looks like the news media were describing this as "secret courts", which seems a little sensationalist.
It seems to have been a way for standing court judges to decide arbitration cases. Without knowing anything about the circumstances, that seems better than having other people who are not judges decide arbitration cases, no? What was the problem with it?
Thanks for pointing that out
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2014-03-24/news/sns-rt-us...