American court commentary
Reading American news media about big or interesting court cases there - in this case the Prop 8 appeal - there is one thing that never fails to get to me: the fact that no Judge can be named without the news article also telling you whether they were appointed by a Democrat or a Republican. It's annoying, it's frustrating, and while interesting and relevant as far as the way judicial appointments are made over there, it immediately colours any reading of that judge's commentary and decisions in a way that is Not Helpful. I know it's not like Australian justices can't be placed on a left-right political scale, but we definitely don't make it a facet of their very identity that forces people - and the judges themselves - to filter judgments through a political prism.