Frequently overlooked, as we examine what functions as a substitute for the proverbial gun battle in the street, is that society's worst problems wind up in court. That may seem obvious. A trend is an unreasoned force that becomes popular but is necessarily ephemeral. It may or may not be good. Another trend criminalizes still more behavior, much like an unfunded mandate.
Trends come and go as quickly as the politicians who play on public emotion.
Trends are okay for the legislative branch. Trends are okay for the executive branch. Trends are not okay for the judicial branch, except in the proper application of the law. This is done even when the trend exacerbates rather than alleviates. In that situation, a judge may be blamed for the problem, rather than an ill-reasoned statute, or an intractable underlying social problem.