VOA标准英语2009年-US Supreme Court Confirmation Battle Could

Liberal and conservative political groups are bracing¹ for what could be a divisive battle over the confirmation² for President Barack Obama's Supreme³ Court nominee⁴, Judge Sonia Sotomayor. The Senate will take up Judge Sotomayor's nomination⁵ sometime in the next several weeks.
　
Supreme Court nominee and federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor, 26 May 2009

President Obama has made Senate confirmation of Judge Sotomayor a major domestic political priority in the months ahead.

"When she ascends⁶ those marble steps to assume her seat on the highest court of the land, America will take another important step towards realizing the ideal that's chiseled⁷ above its entrance, equal justice under the law," President Obama said.

The president wants Sotomayor confirmed in time for her to join the nine-member Supreme Court when it opens its next term in October.
　
The US Supreme Court, Washington DC

Sotomayor will have several weeks to prepare for the Senate confirmation hearings, which are often grueling for high court nominees⁸.

Despite the expected grilling⁹, Sotomayor says she is looking forward to the sessions with the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"You have nominated me to serve on the country's highest court, and I am deeply moved," she said.

For now, most Republican senators indicate they will wait until the hearings before making a decision on whether to support Sotomayor, who would become the first Hispanic Supreme Court justice and the second woman on the current court.

But conservative groups have already seized on some comments she has made off the bench that have aroused concern.

Sotomayor can expect plenty of questions about a comment she made in a speech in 2001 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 hasn't lived that life.

Gary Marx is with a conservative group called the Judicial¹⁰ Confirmation Network. He is urging Senate Republicans to oppose Sotomayor's nomination.

"We see more of a political agenda that she is bringing to her decisions, coming before the law that is written," Marx said.

Liberal groups are expected to lobby just as strongly on her behalf. But some of them will be looking for assurances that Sotomayor favors abortion¹¹ rights, an issue that is often a key flashpoint before the Supreme Court.
　
Nan Aron of the Alliance for Justice (C), (File)

Nan Aron with the liberal Alliance for Justice says Supreme Court nominations¹² almost always set off a heated debate over politics and the law.

"There is usually a very substantial debate over the nomination of a Supreme Court justice, as well there should be given the fact that Supreme Court justices are so powerful and have such a powerful hold over our lives for really decades to come," he said.

After the hearings, the full Senate will vote whether to confirm Sotomayor to the high court. Supreme Court justices are appointed for life.

At this point, Democrats¹³ are confident Sotomayor will be confirmed because they control nearly 60 of the 100 Senate seats, making it very difficult for Republicans to either block her nomination outright¹⁴ or try to sidetrack it through parliamentary delaying tactics.

1 bracing   

adj.令人振奋的

参考例句：

• The country is bracing itself for the threatened enemy invasion. 这个国家正准备奋起抵抗敌人的入侵威胁。
• The atmosphere in the new government was bracing. 新政府的气氛是令人振奋的。

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 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。

4 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。

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 ascends   

v.上升，攀登( ascend的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The azygos vein ascends in the right paravertebral gutter. 奇静脉在右侧脊柱旁沟内上升。 来自辞典例句
• The mortality curve ascends gradually to a plateau at age 65. 死亡曲线逐渐上升，到65岁时成平稳状态。 来自辞典例句

7 chiseled   

adj.凿刻的，轮廓分明的v.凿，雕，镌( chisel的过去式 )

参考例句：

• Woltz had chiseled the guy, given him peanuts for the book. 乌尔茨敲了这个作家的竹杠，用了他的书，却只给微不足道的一点点钱。 来自教父部分
• He chiseled the piece of wood into the shape of a head. 他把这块木头凿刻成人头的形状。 来自辞典例句

8 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

9 grilling   

v.烧烤( grill的现在分词 )；拷问，盘问

参考例句：

• The minister faced a tough grilling at today's press conference. 部长在今天的记者招待会上受到了严厉的盘问。
• He's grilling out there in the midday sun. 他在外面让中午火辣辣的太阳炙烤着。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。

11 abortion   

n.流产，堕胎

参考例句：

• She had an abortion at the women's health clinic.她在妇女保健医院做了流产手术。
• A number of considerations have led her to have a wilful abortion.多种考虑使她执意堕胎。

12 nominations   

n.提名，任命( nomination的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Nominations are invited for the post of party chairman. 为党主席职位征集候选人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Much coverage surrounded his abortive bids for the 1960,1964, and 1968 Republican Presidential nominations. 许多消息报道都围绕着1960年、1964年和1968年他为争取提名为共和党总统候选人所做努力的失败。 来自辞典例句

13 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》

14 outright   

adv.坦率地；彻底地；立即；adj.无疑的；彻底的

参考例句：

• If you have a complaint you should tell me outright.如果你有不满意的事，你应该直率地对我说。
• You should persuade her to marry you outright.你应该彻底劝服她嫁给你。