Illinois

Republicans generally come from the District Attorney's office where they spent their time locking people up. They won their first election running on their conviction record and being "tough on crime".

Democrats come from the Public Defenders Office where they defend those charged with crimes. They won their first election with a "I'll fight for you" platform.

Both sides tend to bring that adversarial relationship in to DC. Republicans look at Dems as being a bunch of slimeballs defending slimeballs. Republicans are also fixated on "tort reform" and that one blemish on their conviction record where the guy "got off on a technicality".

TV has shifted to the Right.

Not too long ago the courtroom shows stared a defense attorney or team. (Perry Mason, Matlock, L.A. Law, etc...)

Now it's all from the perspective of the authorities.

We went from cheering for the "Not Guilty" verdict to cheering for the "Guilty" verdict.