Tyranny of the majority vs. tyranny of the oligarchy. Face possible death by hanging with a fair trial vs. face certain death by guillotine after a hearing by a kangaroo court. It ain't perfect, but I'll take the former.
More like kangaroo court vs lynch mob. The kangaroo court follows the outer form of justice and the mob ignores even that. Neither respect the rule of law.
What is really, really needed is for some legislatures to get some guts and remove some justices from the bench for abuse of power. It is legislative privilege that the courts keep infringing on. The “verdict first, trial after” stuff has to stop, and the only light I can see is appointment of strict constitutionalists. Which is exhibit B against John McCain and his Gang of 14: given his history, I don’t trust him to appoint them.