I would have to agree that courts have had too much influence on law-making than our legislatures. When one judge makes a ruling on a case that is a little outside current laws, that ruling becomes precedent--and used in future similar cases.

While we can blame the courts, the root of the problem is the failure of legislatures to adapt with the times. The legislatures are not able to handle the plethora of societal needs in a wise way. Our legislatures are essentially 18th century tools trying to work in the 21st century.

As for your constitutional convention, I would say that it would be as unworkable as current legislature-----unless the convention was composed of members of only one of the two parties. The other party might have something to say about not being invited.