Remember in the olden days when judges had respect for the law and followed it?
The criminals in black robes think that THEY are the law.
The problem is less the assumption of power by the judges but is rather the acceptance of that situation as right by the population, including us. Neither the legislature or the Executive dares call out the judiciary. They bitch and tear their hair (sometimes) but accept that what a judge has said is the Word of God, at least until a superior God decides differently. Who still thinks we live in a Republic or a Democracy? This is a joint Oligarchy/Judicial Aristocracy.