On general principle, I agree with Apple. I don’t want to give the Federal government a back door into everyone’s cell phones.
However, in this particular case, they need to decrypt so they can find the terrorists murderer’s connections.
Perhaps there is a solution that protects both interests. Perhaps, for example, Apple could have its people specifically decrypt this particular phone and give the FBI the decrypted device. Or perhaps there is some other solution that balances these interests.
They is no "balanced solution." The FBI wants Apple to write a new iOS to bypass the security on this phone, install it, and then hand the phone back to the FBI. Then the FBI will crack it using brute-force methods. Apple can't break it for the FBI, because that creates chain of evidence problems that would render the info inadmissible in court. Once the FBI has the hacked phone, they can get the firmware off of the phone and use it whenever they like. There is no middle ground in this judicial order.