We are a nation governed by laws. But when the courts try to make law from the bench, then we are no longer a nation of laws. We are a nation of whims when judges usurp the duties of the legislature. Is that something along the lines of what you mean?
As for the phrase "of the people, by the people, and for the people", that was written and spoken by a big government Republican, Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps he took his first name too seriously and thought he was the father of a sacred race.
We are a nation of checks and balances, and judges are beholden to the constitution and rule in conjunction with the constitution, not granted the power to usurp the constitution. When they usurp, that makes them oligarchs and the people are just mere subjects.