We also know that it is wholly ineffective if the people have no confidence in it. Unquestionably, the more people are exposed to and educated about the legal system, the better it will work. Without argument, the more its deficiencies are uncovered, the stronger the incentive to correct that which is broken. That makes for a healthier legal system. But the converse also is true.
People often form judgments based upon incomplete or inaccurate information.
If viewers see only a selected part of a proceeding, such as a particularly entertaining portion of a witness' testimony or a lawyer's final argument, and if it is transformed into importance by repeated emphasis, the reality is distorted. When it is visualized, rather than verbally summarized, it becomes an unalterable vision of truth. Predictably, if the verdict does not mirror this view of reality, the conclusion is that the system does not work. In many ways this may be a temporary retreat based on recent events. But when you understand this judicial perspective, you can see ways to fight the negative response.