What us judicial activism and why is it controversial?

[sean43]

Im really struggling to answer this essay question (20 marks) and what better place to come than to a forum wherby educated people can help!

[huchahucha]

I'm thinking judicial activism is when a judge rules from the bench based on personal philosophy or an ideology instead of being neutral and only judging by the law.
It is dangerous because we have three branches of government to provide checks and balances against each other: legislative, executive, and judicial. Unlike the other two branches, some members of the judical are appointed for life, so if you have a group of judges that decide that it is in the country's best interest to ignore the law and rule by personal beliefs or a group ideology, our current form of government will dissolve and basically become an oligarchy.