Final answer:
The courts in a democracy have the role of interpreting and applying laws, including ruling on disputes. Major criticisms of the court system in the U.S. today include concerns about activism, politicization, and lack of diversity. The courts can be considered too strong or weak depending on their exercise of power and protection of individual rights.
Step-by-step explanation:
The role of courts in a democracy is to interpret and apply the country's laws, including ruling on criminal, civil, and constitutional disputes. In the United States, the courts, particularly the Supreme Court, have the power of judicial review, which allows them to determine if laws and policies are unconstitutional. However, there are major criticisms of the court system in the U.S. today, including concerns about activism, politicization, and lack of diversity on the bench. Some argue that the courts may be too strong when they exercise excessive power and override the other branches of government, while others believe they may be too weak when they fail to protect individual rights effectively.