[quote=mdk]
This might be a product of different legal systems (You're in GB, right?).... There are certain foundational values in the American legal system that are totally overridden by media involvement. The bulk of our 'Bill of Rights' is about trial proceedings, including rights to representation, rights to privacy, rights to impartiality, rights against search without a warrant... these are fairly central tenets of our whole country, really, and our news agencies ignore them without fear of reproach. Now certainly, we should talk about things from time to time, like 'It's not okay to gun down black people.' But what actually happens -- the practical history here -- is that news agencies whip up a lynch mob with their left hand so that they can sell torches with the right. That's how we operate and it's appalling, and I sincerely hope it's different in Britain.people should be angrier about this.
[/quote]

I'm certainly not arguing that the media handle these things in a responsible way. All I was ever arguing was that it's important for the individual to pay attention to court decisions. The lens through which they do that - the media - may be very faulty, but it is still an individual's responsibility to pay attention to these things, to ensure that if there is some problem with the way things are being done that that issue is addressed. 
Taking your logic, people should not pay attention to voting candidates and their policies because the media may screw around with the facts, be biased, and encourage extreme or oversimplified, polarised views of things. We know the media does this, but regardless of that, it is still important for people to pay attention to political candidates, parties, and policy, no? 
Maybe I'm simply missing your point - I get the impression we are talking at slight cross-purposes here.