I think it also played a rule on civil right case regarding Rodney King.

In Mass, a British nannies was convicted for murder two
by the jury.

It was also public opinions that pressure the judge
to reduce that to a manslaughter.

It is judge's obligation not to be influenced by
public opinions politics etc but a judge is a human
too and can not be expected to fully meet his obligation
so that it is perfectly practical for all parties involved to try to manipulate judge and jurors in a
legal way like making enough noises etc and hope a juror
watch TV etc and be influeneced.