Court backs Texas over razor wire installed on U.S.-Mexico border

[Igel]

4. Okay, now the real question: Why was that the decision?

Otherwise it comes across as what too many Americans think is what judges do: Just look at something and make up the law as they see fit based on pretty much nothing but politics and personal opinion.

The last two play a role, but that "rule by law" bit isn't so much widely believed in actual fact but cited as a kind of appeal to authority by somebody who likes a unpopular decision. I mean, even places like NPR act like "rule by man" is what's really happening by giving no "role to law" in their discussion or most of their analysis--and for the majority of folk who are headline skimmers, it's not "just the facts, ma'am," but "give me the outrage-inducing conclusion".