VOA标准英语2009年-US Senate Panel Approves Obama Supreme Cou

The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved the nomination¹ of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme² Court of the United States. The largely party line 13 to 6 vote sends the nomination of Sotomayor, who would be the nation's first Hispanic Supreme Court justice, to the full Senate for consideration.
　
Senate Judiciary Committee during markup³ vote on Capitol Hill on nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court, 28 Jul 2009

As expected, all but one of seven Republicans on the panel voted against Sotomayor, pointing to what they asserted are indications from her judicial⁴ record and public statements that she would bring a personal bias⁵ to the high court.

Among the six Republicans voting against Sotomayor, Senator Jeff Sessions cited decisions she has made as a federal court judge that he asserted lacked careful analysis and signaled how she would rule in cases coming before the Supreme Court.

"Each of these three cases of importance deserved to be treated with great thoughtfulness and care," said Sessions. "Yet in each instance, her decisions were unacceptably short and their only consistency⁶ was that the result favored a liberal, pro-government ideology⁷ against the individuals asserting their constitutional rights."

Senator Charles Grassley, who voted against Sotomayor's nomination in 1998 to be a federal circuit court judge, said in her nomination hearing for the Supreme Court she failed to persuade him that she would rule dispassionately.

"It is imperative⁸ that the nominee⁹ persuade us that he or she will be able to set aside one's own feelings so he or she can dispassionately administer equal justice," said Grassley. "Yet I am not convinced that Judge Sotomayor has the ability to wear the judicial blindfold¹⁰, and resist having personal biases¹¹ and preferences dictate¹² her judicial method on the Supreme Court."

During her confirmation¹³ hearing, Sotomayor faced sharp questions about remarks she made in several speeches in which she said "a wise Latina would more often than not reach a better conclusion" than a white male in judging a case.

But Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said that while he had concerns about this, Sotomayor's remarks needed to be placed in context, and he referred to the historic nature of her nomination.

"We are 200 and something years old as a nation," said Graham. "This is the first Latino woman in the history of the United States to be selected for the Supreme Court. Now that is a big deal. I would not have chosen her, but I understand why President Obama did."

The committee chairman, Vermont Democrat¹⁴ Patrick Leahy, described Sotomayor as a restrained, impartial¹⁵ and fair judge who would not favor one group of people over another in her judgments¹⁶ on the high court.

Senator Russ Feingold and fellow Democrat Dianne Feinstein said Sotomayor's judicial qualifications and philosophies had been thoroughly¹⁷ tested.

"I do not see in her record or her public statements a burning desire to overturn precedent¹⁸ or to remake constitutional law in the image of her own personal preference, and I certainly do not see any bias of any kind," said Feingold.

"She has shown a dedication¹⁹ to the law," said Feinstein. "This has been tested and tested. She has shown before us judicial temperament²⁰. This has been probed and picked at. I find no example of infidelity to the law."

Approval of Judge Sotomayor by the Senate Judiciary Committee moves her nomination to the full Senate, which is expected to act on it next week.

1 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。

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 markup   

n.加价，涨价，利润

参考例句：

• This mean that international delivery will line markup from today.这意味着国际快递将从今天起全线涨价。
• Our products are expensive,and distributors and retailers always want a large markup.我们的产品很贵，经销商和零售商总是要求高额利差。

4 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。

5 bias   

n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见

参考例句：

• They are accusing the teacher of political bias in his marking.他们在指控那名教师打分数有政治偏见。
• He had a bias toward the plan.他对这项计划有偏见。

6 consistency   

n.一贯性，前后一致，稳定性；(液体的)浓度

参考例句：

• Your behaviour lacks consistency.你的行为缺乏一贯性。
• We appreciate the consistency and stability in China and in Chinese politics.我们赞赏中国及其政策的连续性和稳定性。

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 imperative   

n.命令，需要；规则；祈使语气；adj.强制的；紧急的

参考例句：

• He always speaks in an imperative tone of voice.他老是用命令的口吻讲话。
• The events of the past few days make it imperative for her to act.过去这几天发生的事迫使她不得不立即行动。

9 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。

10 blindfold   

vt.蒙住…的眼睛；adj.盲目的；adv.盲目地；n.蒙眼的绷带[布等]； 障眼物，蒙蔽人的事物

参考例句：

• They put a blindfold on a horse.他们给马蒙上遮眼布。
• I can do it blindfold.我闭着眼睛都能做。

11 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。

12 dictate   

v.口授；(使)听写；指令，指示，命令

参考例句：

• It took him a long time to dictate this letter.口述这封信花了他很长时间。
• What right have you to dictate to others?你有什么资格向别人发号施令？

13 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

14 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。

15 impartial   

adj.(in,to)公正的，无偏见的

参考例句：

• He gave an impartial view of the state of affairs in Ireland.他对爱尔兰的事态发表了公正的看法。
• Careers officers offer impartial advice to all pupils.就业指导员向所有学生提供公正无私的建议。

16 judgments   

判断( judgment的名词复数 )； 鉴定； 评价； 审判

参考例句：

• A peculiar austerity marked his judgments of modern life. 他对现代生活的批评带着一种特殊的苛刻。
• He is swift with his judgments. 他判断迅速。

17 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

18 precedent   

n.先例，前例；惯例；adj.在前的，在先的

参考例句：

• Is there a precedent for what you want me to do?你要我做的事有前例可援吗？
• This is a wonderful achievement without precedent in Chinese history.这是中国历史上亘古未有的奇绩。

19 dedication   

n.奉献，献身，致力，题献，献辞

参考例句：

• We admire her courage,compassion and dedication.我们钦佩她的勇气、爱心和奉献精神。
• Her dedication to her work was admirable.她对工作的奉献精神可钦可佩。

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。