VOA标准英语2009年-Sotomayor Pledges Commitment to Law, Impar

Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama's nominee¹ to serve on the Supreme² Court of the United States, has pledged impartiality³ and fidelity⁴ to the law if she is confirmed as the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice and only the third woman to sit on the high court. Sotomayor responded to critics as she completed the first day of her nomination⁵ hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
　
Sonia Sotomayor in front of the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, 13 Jul 2009

Sotomayor faces a week of tough questions from lawmakers, although she is widely expected to be confirmed by the full Senate after this week's questioning before the committee.

In nominating her, President Obama cited Sotomayor's rise from a poor Puerto Rican family in the Bronx section of New York City to elite⁶ universities, and her 17 years as a federal judge.
Sotomayor referred to that background in her opening statement.

"The progression of my life has been uniquely American," said Sonia Sotomayor. "My parents left Puerto Rico during World War II. I grew up in modest circumstances in a Bronx housing project. My father, a factory worker with a third grade education, passed away when I was nine-years-old. "

President Obama has also said that Sotomayor would bring a commitment to interpreting the law without a particular ideology⁷ or agenda.
　
Judge Sonia Sotomayor is greeted on Capitol Hill by Sen. Orrin Hatch, right, and Committee Chairman Sen. Patrick Leahy, at center, 13 Jul 2009

The Democrat⁸ chairing the Judiciary Committee, Senator Patrick Leahy, referred to criticism from Republicans that Sotomayor's statements and rulings indicate her personal background might lead her to decide cases unfairly.

"I would trust that all members of this committee here today will reject the efforts of partisans⁹ and outside pressure groups that have sought to create a caricature of Judge Sotomayor, while belittling¹⁰ her record and her achievements, and her intelligence," said Patrick Leahy.

Republicans, such as Senator Jeff Sessions, assert that approval of Sotomayor would mark a trend in which more value is placed on court nominees¹¹ who might apply biases¹² based on their personal lives than a commitment to judging impartially¹³ and interpreting the law.

"I will not vote for, and no senator should vote for, an individual nominated by any president who believes it is acceptable for a judge to allow their personal background, gender¹⁴, prejudices or sympathies to sway their decision in favor of or against the parties before the court," said Jeff Sessions. "In my view, such a philosophy is disqualifying."

Sotomayor's critics also point to President Obama's statement in nominating her that "empathy" is "an essential ingredient for arriving at just decisions and outcomes." Republicans say this supports their assertion that she would not decide cases fairly.

Sotomayor addressed the criticisms, saying her decisions have always been based on impartiality and a commitment to the law.

"In the past month, many senators have asked me about my judicial¹⁵ philosophy," she said. "[It is] simple: fidelity to the law. The task of the judge is not to make the law, it is to apply the law. And it is clear, I believe, that my record in two courts reflects my rigorous commitment to interpreting the Constitution [of the United States] according to its terms; interpreting statutes¹⁶ according to their terms and Congress's intent, and hewing¹⁷ faithfully to precedents¹⁸ established by the Supreme Court and by my Circuit Court. In each case I have heard, I have applied¹⁹ the law to the facts at hand."

Senator Diane Feinstein, a Democrat, said Sotomayor satisfies a range of requirements to serve on the court.

"Broad and relevant experience, you satisfy that,' said Diane Feinstein. "Second, a strong and deep knowledge of the law and the Constitution, you satisfy that. Third, a firm commitment to follow the law and you have, and all of the statistics indicate that. A judicial temperament²⁰ and integrity, and you have both of those. And finally, mainstream²¹ legal reasoning."

Issues on which Sotomayor will be questioned include her ruling, as part of a three-judge panel, against 19 white and one Hispanic firefighters in New Haven²², Connecticut who claimed they were discriminated²³ against. The Supreme Court recently overturned that ruling in 5 to 4 decision.

She will also have numerous opportunities to explain her thinking behind a 2001 statement in which she said, "A wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who has not lived that life."

Thirty-one witnesses will testify on Sotomayor's nomination, which is President Obama's first opportunity to shape the Supreme Court.

She would replace Justice David Souter who announced his retirement²⁴ earlier this year, and would become only the second woman to currently serve on the court, joining Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

With Democrats²⁵ holding a 60 vote majority, eventual²⁶ Senate approval of Sotomayor's nomination appears assured. One key Republican senator, Lindsey Graham, said that barring a "meltdown" by Sotomayor during the hearing, she will be confirmed.

Some Republicans are likely to support the nomination, amid concerns about alienating²⁷ Hispanic voters who are an important political factor in key U.S. states won by President Obama last year.

1 nominee   

n.被提名者；被任命者；被推荐者

参考例句：

• His nominee for vice president was elected only after a second ballot.他提名的副总统在两轮投票后才当选。
• Mr.Francisco is standing as the official nominee for the post of District Secretary.弗朗西斯科先生是行政书记职位的正式提名人。

2 supreme   

adj.极度的，最重要的；至高的，最高的

参考例句：

• It was the supreme moment in his life.那是他一生中最重要的时刻。
• He handed up the indictment to the supreme court.他把起诉书送交最高法院。

3 impartiality   

n. 公平, 无私, 不偏

参考例句：

• He shows impartiality and detachment. 他表现得不偏不倚，超然事外。
• Impartiality is essential to a judge. 公平是当法官所必需的。

4 fidelity   

n.忠诚，忠实；精确

参考例句：

• There is nothing like a dog's fidelity.没有什么能比得上狗的忠诚。
• His fidelity and industry brought him speedy promotion.他的尽职及勤奋使他很快地得到晋升。

5 nomination   

n.提名，任命，提名权

参考例句：

• John is favourite to get the nomination for club president.约翰最有希望被提名为俱乐部主席。
• Few people pronounced for his nomination.很少人表示赞成他的提名。

6 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

7 ideology   

n.意识形态，(政治或社会的)思想意识

参考例句：

• The ideology has great influence in the world.这种思想体系在世界上有很大的影响。
• The ideal is to strike a medium between ideology and inspiration.我的理想是在意识思想和灵感鼓动之间找到一个折衷。

8 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

9 partisans   

游击队员( partisan的名词复数 )； 党人； 党羽； 帮伙

参考例句：

• Every movement has its partisans. 每一运动都有热情的支持者。
• He was rescued by some Italian partisans. 他被几名意大利游击队员所救。

10 belittling   

使显得微小，轻视，贬低( belittle的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• We must be realistic in our self-estimation, neither being conceited nor belittling ourselves. 我们对自己的估计应该实事求是， 不要自高自大，也不要妄自菲薄。
• I find it belittling to be criticized by someone so much younger than me. 有个比我年轻许多的人批评了我，我觉得是小看了我。

11 nominees   

n.被提名者，被任命者( nominee的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• She's one of the nominees. 她是被提名者之一。 来自超越目标英语 第2册
• A startling number of his nominees for senior positions have imploded. 他所提名的高级官员被否决的数目令人震惊。 来自互联网

12 biases   

偏见( bias的名词复数 )； 偏爱； 特殊能力； 斜纹

参考例句：

• Stereotypes represent designer or researcher biases and assumptions, rather than factual data. 它代表设计师或者研究者的偏见和假设，而不是实际的数据。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓
• The net effect of biases on international comparisons is easily summarized. 偏差对国际比较的基本影响容易概括。

13 impartially   

adv.公平地，无私地

参考例句：

• Employers must consider all candidates impartially and without bias. 雇主必须公平而毫无成见地考虑所有求职者。
• We hope that they're going to administer justice impartially. 我们希望他们能主持正义，不偏不倚。

14 gender   

n.（生理上的）性，（名词、代词等的）性

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns.法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。
• Women are sometimes denied opportunities solely because of their gender.妇女有时仅仅因为性别而无法获得种种机会。

15 judicial   

adj.司法的，法庭的，审判的，明断的，公正的

参考例句：

• He is a man with a judicial mind.他是个公正的人。
• Tom takes judicial proceedings against his father.汤姆对他的父亲正式提出诉讼。

16 statutes   

成文法( statute的名词复数 )； 法令； 法规； 章程

参考例句：

• The numerous existing statutes are complicated and poorly coordinated. 目前繁多的法令既十分复杂又缺乏快调。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法
• Each agency is also restricted by the particular statutes governing its activities. 各个机构的行为也受具体法令限制。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

17 hewing   

v.（用斧、刀等）砍、劈( hew的现在分词 )；砍成；劈出；开辟

参考例句：

• The farmer spent a day in the woods hewing timber. 这个农夫花了一天时间在森林里砍木材。 来自辞典例句
• He was hewing away at the trunk of the tree. 他不停地照着树干砍去。 来自辞典例句

18 precedents   

引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例

参考例句：

• There is no lack of precedents in this connection. 不乏先例。
• He copied after bad precedents. 他仿效恶例。

19 applied   

adj.应用的；v.应用，适用

参考例句：

• She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
• This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。

20 temperament   

n.气质，性格，性情

参考例句：

• The analysis of what kind of temperament you possess is vital.分析一下你有什么样的气质是十分重要的。
• Success often depends on temperament.成功常常取决于一个人的性格。

21 mainstream   

n.（思想或行为的）主流；adj.主流的

参考例句：

• Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
• Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。

22 haven   

n.安全的地方，避难所，庇护所

参考例句：

• It's a real haven at the end of a busy working day.忙碌了一整天后，这真是一个安乐窝。
• The school library is a little haven of peace and quiet.学校的图书馆是一个和平且安静的小避风港。

23 discriminated   

分别，辨别，区分( discriminate的过去式和过去分词 )； 歧视，有差别地对待

参考例句：

• His great size discriminated him from his followers. 他的宽广身材使他不同于他的部下。
• Should be a person that has second liver virus discriminated against? 一个患有乙肝病毒的人是不是就应该被人歧视？

24 retirement   

n.退休，退职

参考例句：

• She wanted to enjoy her retirement without being beset by financial worries.她想享受退休生活而不必为金钱担忧。
• I have to put everything away for my retirement.我必须把一切都积蓄起来以便退休后用。

25 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

26 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

27 alienating   

v.使疏远( alienate的现在分词 )；使不友好；转让；让渡（财产等）

参考例句：

• The phenomena of alienation are widespread. Sports are also alienating. 异化现象普遍存在，体育运动也不例外。 来自互联网
• How can you appeal to them without alienating the mainstream crowd? 你是怎么在不疏忽主流玩家的情况下吸引住他们呢？ 来自互联网