CNN 2010-05-14

Very smart and very skilled that building consensus¹. Two traits not listed on Kagan's resume, but they're sure won't hurt her chances of confirmation². CNN's Kate Bolduan has a closer look.

Elena Kagan, here congratulating retiring Justice John Paul Stevens on his long and distinguished³ career.

If you ever argue before the Supreme⁴ Court, beware, underlying⁵ Justice Stevens' extraordinary politeness, extraordinary courtesy, danger awaits.

Now, the Solicitor⁶ General could fill the very seat Justice Stevens is vacating at the end of this term.

Thank you, Justice Stevens.

A 50-year-old New York City native, Kagan is a former dean of Harvard Law School where she also received her law degree. She worked in the Clinton White House and is currently the federal government's top lawyer before the Supreme Court. She's argued six cases herself since taking over the job in 2009. During confirmation hearings for that position, some senators were skeptical⁷ Kagan had the necessary experience because she's never been a judge and had at that point never argued a case before the Supreme Court or any court for that matter.

How are you gonna handle that? And how are you gonna prepare yourself?

I'm very confident that I'm up to this part of the job as I am to all the many other parts. I think I bring up a lifetime of learning and study of the law and particularly of the constitutional and administrative⁸ law issues that form the core of the court's docket. I think I bring up some of the communications skills that have made me, I'm just going to say, a famously, excellent teacher.

Kate Bolduan joining us now from outside the Supreme Court. So, Kate, how unusual is it for a Supreme Court justice to have zero experience as a judge?

It is unusual, and I think, it is some 40 years since the last time that this has happened, and really, it cuts both ways. While some will say that they are concerned about her thin judicial⁹ record because liberals will say that they want to make sure she is a reliable liberal. Everyone is very clear that she is a Democrat¹⁰ with a big "D," but the question, this is a nomination¹¹. You can't take this job back, Kyra, you know that. President Obama wants to be very sure, and liberals, especially, want to be very sure that whoever gets on that court, they can rely on to be a reliable liberal. You'll hear that a little bit more, but at the same time, as they said, it cuts the other way. Her limited paper trail also offers much less for conservative critics to go through to try to view through and look at, you know, what she said on the record. So, they could also work in her favor in that regard.
 

1 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

2 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。

3 distinguished   

adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的

参考例句：

• Elephants are distinguished from other animals by their long noses.大象以其长长的鼻子显示出与其他动物的不同。
• A banquet was given in honor of the distinguished guests.宴会是为了向贵宾们致敬而举行的。

4 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。

5 underlying   

adj.在下面的，含蓄的，潜在的

参考例句：

• The underlying theme of the novel is very serious.小说隐含的主题是十分严肃的。
• This word has its underlying meaning.这个单词有它潜在的含义。

6 solicitor   

n.初级律师，事务律师

参考例句：

• The solicitor's advice gave me food for thought.律师的指点值得我深思。
• The solicitor moved for an adjournment of the case.律师请求将这个案件的诉讼延期。

7 skeptical   

adj.怀疑的，多疑的

参考例句：

• Others here are more skeptical about the chances for justice being done.这里的其他人更为怀疑正义能否得到伸张。
• Her look was skeptical and resigned.她的表情是将信将疑而又无可奈何。

8 administrative   

adj.行政的，管理的

参考例句：

• The administrative burden must be lifted from local government.必须解除地方政府的行政负担。
• He regarded all these administrative details as beneath his notice.他认为行政管理上的这些琐事都不值一顾。

9 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。

10 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。

11 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。