[Annotated] Justice Brett Kavanaugh

After a bitter nomination fight^[각주:1], America's highest court^[각주:2] gets its ninth judge^[각주:3]

Almost three months to the day since Donald Trump nominated him to the Supreme Court^[각주:4], Brett Kavanaugh was confirmed on Saturday afternoon by a 50-48 margin^[각주:5]. The saga^[각주:6] ended in a manner appropriate to the United States Senate: with neither a bang^[각주:7] nor a whimper^[각주:8], but with hours of pointless verbiage^[각주:9] preceding the final vote^[각주:10] just before 4pm. Protesters repeatedly interrupted, but the outcome was not in doubt^[각주:11]. On Friday afternoon the previously wavering Joe Manchin ^[각주:12]and Susan Collins, Democrat and Republican respectively^[각주:13], confirmed that they would vote for Mr Kavanaugh^[각주:14], despite finding the testimony of^[각주:15] Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused him of sexual assault, "credible^[각주:16]". Mr Kavanaugh could take his seat on the bench^[각주:17] as early as Tuesday - but the repercussions^[각주:18] will be felt for years to come^[각주:19]. 

Poll upon poll has shown that Americans respect the Supreme Court more than Congress or the presidency. It is seen - and its legitimacy depends on^[각주:20] its being seen - as a trustworthy^[각주:21], more or less neutral^[각주:22], arbiter^[각주:23]: not apolitical^[각주:24], necessarily, but not tied to the partisan^[각주:25] fray^[각주:26], like the other two branches^[각주:27]. That view may be on its way out^[각주:28]. 

For some on the left, this falling of^[각주:29] the scales is long overdue^[각주:30]. The court's jurisprudence^[각주:31] has been listing rightward^[각주:32] for decades^[각주:33], and some Republicans made no bones about viewing the court as^[각주:34] an instrument of political power. It is time, say some, for the left to play hardball^[각주:35] too. Perhaps. But with Mr Trump already testing American institutions, the weakening of^[각주:36] one more is something to be accepted with resignation, not glee^[각주:37]. 

And Mr Kavanaugh is not just one more conservative jurist^[각주:38]. He worked in George W Bush's White House and on Ken Starr's team investigating Bill Clinton before taking his place on the federal bench 12 years ago. At his second hearing he dispensed with the mild neutrality offered by most nominees^[각주:39], and launched instead into an intemperate^[각주:40] diatribe^[각주:41], treating Democratic senators with contempt^[각주:42]. His performance was sufficiently^[각주:43] inflammatory for him to^[각주:44] follow up with an op-ed^[각주:45] in^[각주:46] the Wall Street Journal in which, without really apologizing ("I said a few things I should not have said," he wrote, but "I hope everyone can understand that I was there as a son, husband and dad") he pledged to be "independent" and "impartial^[각주:47]". This was too little, too late. 

For as long as he sits on the court, Democrats will doubt his impartiality^[각주:48] - and hence^[각주:49] the legitimacy of every 5-4 ruling that^[각주:50] they lose. They will no doubt remind their voters that two of the five conservative justices ruling on abortion rights and gender discrimination have been accused of sexual misconduct^[각주:51], and four of the five were nominated by presidents who lost the popular vote^[각주:52]. Some on the left have already started to mull court-packing^[각주:53] (increasing the number of justices^[각주:54]) should they win Congress and the White House in 2020. Such talk will probably come to nothing^[각주:55], though. Contemporary Democrats are, for the most part^[각주:56], institutionalists^[각주:57]. 

The same cannot be said for Republicans, as this entire episode shows. Only after Ms Collins and Jeff Flake, a Republican senator from Arizona who is retiring^[각주:58], vowed not to confirm Mr Kavanaugh without investigating the claims made against him^[각주:59] did Senate Republicans agree to do so. The FBI investigation lasted just a week, and interviewed neither Mr Kavanaugh, nor Ms Ford, nor any of the multiple witnesses who claimed to be able to corroborate^[각주:60] the accusation of^[각주:61] Deborah Ramirez, who said Mr Kavanaugh had exposed himself to her. In other words^[각주:62], it was less an investigation than an "investigation", designed to tick the box without^[각주:63] ever running the risk of^[각주:64] uncovering anything embarrassing to^[각주:65] the nominee^[각주:66]. 

It was foolish to expect anything else from this Congress. For almost two years, congressional Republicans have abdicated their constitutional responsibility to check^[각주:67] and balance^[각주:68], and instead have dedicated themselves to^[각주:69] shielding Mr Trump^[각주:70] - by doing what they can to frustrate Robert Mueller's investigation into alleged links between^[각주:71] the president's campaign and Russia, or batting not an eye at a report in^[각주:72] the New York Times that attributes much of Mr Trump's wealth to^[각주:73] what it calls "dubious^[각주:74] tax schemes^[각주:75]". It is partisanship all the way down^[각주:76]. 

Indeed, Mr Kavanaugh's nomination appeared in doubt until^[각주:77] Mr Trump spoke up. After days of remaining calm^[각주:78], even complimentary toward^[각주:79] Ms Ford, he mocked her at a rally in^[각주:80] Mississippi last week. The audience loved it. Mitch McConnell, the Senate Majority leader, crowded that the fight over Mr Kavanaugh is "a great political gift for us. The tactics have energized our base^[각주:81]." He is right: the Democrats' enthusiasm gap^[각주:82] has faded in recent weeks^[각주:83]. They still look likely to retake the House^[각주:84], but the Senate appears farther from reach^[각주:85]. Whether that trend persists for the next four weeks is unclear^[각주:86]. Grievance^[각주:87] is a powerful motivator^[각주:88], and having lost the confirmation battle^[각주:89], Democrats have more reason for it than Republicans do. 

1. nomination fight ; 지명전 ; 임명을 두고 벌이는 경쟁, 다툼 [본문으로]
2. high court ; (the High Court) 《美》 최고 재판소; 《英》 고등법원(High Court of Justice) [본문으로]
3. judge ; 1. 판사 ; 참조 Justice of the Peace, magistrate [본문으로]
4. nominate ; 2. ~ sb (to/as sth) (특정 일을 하도록) 임명[지명]하다 ; 유의어 appoint [본문으로]
5. margin ; 2. [주로 단수로] (시간·득표 수 등의) 차이[차] [본문으로]
6. saga ; 3. 일련의 사건[모험] (또는 그에 대한 보도) ;; [NOUN] A saga is a long story, account, or sequence of events.;; 미국∙영국 [ˈsɑːɡə] [본문으로]
7. bang ; 2. [a ~] [미·구어] 자극, 흥분; 충격 [본문으로]
8. whimper ; [명사] 흐느낌, 코를 킹킹거리는 소리, 가련한 (울음) 소리; 읍소; 탄원, 애원. [본문으로]
9. verbiage ; [U] (격식, 못마땅함) 장황함 ;; [NOUN] If you refer to someone's speech or writing as verbiage, you are critical of them because they use too many words, which makes their speech or writing difficult to understand. ;; 미국식 [ˈvɜːrb-] 영국식 [ˈvɜːbiɪdʒ] [본문으로]
10. precede ; 1. …에 앞서다[선행하다] ;; [VERB] If one event or period of time precedes another, it happens before it. [본문으로]
11. be in doubt ; 의심스럽다[불확실하다] [본문으로]
12. wavering ; 1. 흔들리는, 펄럭이는 ;; 2. 떨리는, 주저하는 [본문으로]
13. respectively ; [부사] 각자, 각각, 제각기 ;; [ADV] Respectively means in the same order as the items that you have just mentioned. [본문으로]
14. vote for ; …에 (찬성) 투표하다; 《구어》 …을 제안[제의]하다 [본문으로]
15. testimony ; 2. [C, U] 증언(보통 법정에서 하는 것) [본문으로]
16. credible ; 1. 믿을[신뢰할] 수 있는 ; 유의어 convincing ;; 2. (성공하리라고 보고) 받아들일 만한, 믿을 만한 ; 유의어 viable [본문으로]
17. bench ; 2. [sing.] the bench (법률) 판사(석/직) [본문으로]
18. repercussion ; [주로 복수로] (어떤 사건이 초래한, 보통 좋지 못한, 간접적인) 영향 ; 유의어 consequence ;; 미국식 [-pərˈk-] 영국식 [ˌriːpəˈkʌʃn] [본문으로]
19. for years to come ; 앞으로 몇 년간, 장래에 [본문으로]
20. legitimacy ; 1. 합법성, 적법; 합리[타당]성 ;; 2. 적출(嫡出); 정통, 정계(正系) [본문으로]
21. trustworthy ; [형용사] 신뢰할[믿을] 수 있는 ; 유의어 reliable [본문으로]
22. more or less ; 1. 거의(almost) ;; 2. 약[대략](approximately) [본문으로]
23. arbiter ; [명사] ~ (of sth) 결정권자 ;; [NOUN] An arbiter is a person or institution that judges and settles a quarrel between two other people or groups. ;; 미국식 [ˈɑːrb-] 영국식 [ˈɑːbɪtə(r)] [본문으로]
24. apolitical ; 1. (사람이) 정치에 관심 없는 ;; 2. 어떤 정파[정당]에 관련되지 않은 [본문으로]
25. partisan ; [형용사] (흔히 못마땅함) 편파[당파]적인 ; 유의어 one-sided ;; [명사] 1. (특정 지도자집단사상의) 열렬한 지지자[신봉자] ; 유의어 follower [본문으로]
26. fray ; [sing.] the fray (특히 자신의 능력을 시험하는 듯한) 싸움[경쟁] ;; [NOUN] The fray is an exciting or challenging activity, situation, or argument that you are involved in. [본문으로]
27. branch ; 3. (큰 조직의) 분과[부서] ; 유의어 department ;; 4. (지식의) 분야; (어족의) 분파 ;; 6. (조상이 같은) 일족[가족] [본문으로]
28. be one's[the] way out ; 1 while leaving a place ;; 2 no longer successful, popular, or effective [본문으로]
29. falling ; [U] 1. 낙하, 추락; 강하(降下), (물가 따위의) 하락. ;; 2. 전도(轉倒); 함락, (암석의) 붕괴. ;; 3. 몰락; 감퇴; 타락. [본문으로]
30. long overdue ; 한참 전에 행해졌어야 할 [본문으로]
31. jurisprudence ; [U] (전문 용어) 법학 ;; 미국식 [ˌdʒʊr-] 영국식 [ˌdʒʊərɪsˈpruːdns] [본문으로]
32. rightward ; 2. 우익의 [본문으로]
33. for decades ; 수십 년간 [본문으로]
34. make no bones about (doing) sth ; 거침없이 ~하다 ;; not hesitate to do something; be honest and open about something [본문으로]
35. play hardball ; 1. (미국·속어) 강경 자세를 취하다 ;; 2. (영국·구어) 부정 수단을 쓰다 ;; 1.used to refer to a way of behaving, especially in politics, that shows that a person is determined to get what they want [본문으로]
36. weakening ; 약세, 약화 [본문으로]
37. glee ; [U] 신이 남; (남이 잘못되는 것에 대한) 고소한 기분 ; 유의어 delight ;; [NOUN] Glee is a feeling of happiness and excitement, often caused by someone else's misfortune. [본문으로]
38. jurist ; [명사] (격식) 법학자, 법률문제 전문가 ;; 미국식 [ˈdʒʊr-] 영국식 [ˈdʒʊərɪst] [본문으로]
39. dispense with sb/sth ; (더 이상 필요 없는 것을) 없애다[생략하다] ;; ~을 필요없이하다, 면제시키다 [본문으로]
40. intemperate ; (격식) 1. 무절제한 ; 반의어 temperate ;; [ADJ] If you describe someone's words as intemperate, you are critical of them because they are too forceful and uncontrolled. ;; 미국∙영국 [ɪnˈtempərət] [본문으로]
41. diatribe ; [명사] ~ (against sb/sth) (격식) (말이나 글로 된 통렬한) 비판[공격] ;; [NOUN] A diatribe is an angry speech or article which is extremely critical of someone's ideas or activities. ;; 미국∙영국 [ˈdaɪətraɪb] [본문으로]
42. with contempt ; 경멸스럽다는 듯이, 경멸하면서 [본문으로]
43. sufficiently ; [부사] 충분히, (…하기에) 충분할 만큼 ((to do)) [본문으로]
44. inflammatory ; 1. (못마땅함) 선동적인, 강한 분노를 유발하는 ;; 2. (의학) 염증을 일으키는, 염증의 [본문으로]
45. op-ed ; [명사] (신문의 사설 반대쪽 페이지인) 기명 논평 페이지 ;; (신문) 사설란(editorial)의 대면 페이지(외부의 칼럼니스트를 기용한 특집 페이지인 것이 보통; Op Ed로도 씀) [본문으로]
46. follow up with ~ ; …을 덧붙이다, ~을 연달아 하다, ~을 이어서 하다 [본문으로]
47. impartial ; 공정한 ; 유의어 neutral, unbiased ; 반의어 partial [본문으로]
48. impartiality ; 치우치지 않음, 불편부당(不偏不黨) ; 공정, 공평(fairness, justice). [본문으로]
49. hence ; [부사] (격식) 이런 이유로 ;; [ADV] [ADV cl/group] You use hence to indicate that the statement you are about to make is a consequence of what you have just said. [본문으로]
50. ruling ; [명사] ~ (on sth) (특히 판사의) 결정, 판결 [본문으로]
51. misconduct ; [U] (격식) 1. (특히 전문직 종사자의) 비행, 위법[불법] 행위, 직권 남용 [본문으로]
52. popular vote ; 일반 투표 ((대통령 후보의 선출처럼 일정 자격이 있는 선거인이 하는)) [본문으로]
53. mull ; 1. 엉망으로 만들다, 실수하다; 숙고하다 ;; [VERB] If you mull something, you think about it for a long time before deciding what to do. [본문으로]
54. justice ; 4. [C] Just·ice (美) 판사, 재판관(법정에서 판사 이름 앞에 붙여 쓰기도 함) ; 참조 chief justice [본문으로]
55. come to nothing ; 허사가 되다[수포로 돌아가다] ; 유의어 not come to anything [본문으로]
56. for the most part ; 대개; 보통 [본문으로]
57. institutionalist ; Of, pertaining to, or following institutionalism([U] 제도[조직] 존중주의(opp. individualism)) [본문으로]
58. retiring ; [형용사] 남과 잘 어울리지 않는, 내성적인 ; 유의어 shy [본문으로]
59. claim ; 4. (사실의) 주장, 단정, 확언(assertion). [본문으로]
60. corroborate ; [타동사][VN] [흔히 수동태로] (격식) (진술·이론 등을 뒷받침하는 증거나 정보를) 제공하다, 확증[입증]하다 ; 유의어 confirm ;; [VERB] To corroborate something that has been said or reported means to provide evidence or information that supports it.;; 미국식 [-ˈrɑːb-] 영국식 [kəˈrɒbəreɪt] [본문으로]
61. accusation ; [C, U] ~ (of sth) (against sb) | ~ (that…) 혐의 (제기), 비난; 고발, 기소 [본문으로]
62. in other words ; 다시 말해서 [본문으로]
63. tick ; 2. [타동사][VN] (美 check) (英) (정답 등에) 체크 표시(✓)를 하다 [본문으로]
64. run the risk of ; ~의 위험을 무릅쓰다 [본문으로]
65. uncover ; 2. [타동사] (비밀 등을) 알아내다[적발하다] ;; [VERB] If you uncover something, especially something that has been kept secret, you discover or find out about it. [본문으로]
66. nominee ; 1. (직책·수상자 등에) 지명[추천]된 사람, 후보 ;; 미국식 [ˌnɑːm-] 영국식 [ˌnɒmɪˈniː] [본문으로]
67. abdicate ; 2. [타동사][VN] ~ responsibility/your responsibilities 책무를 다하지 못하다; 책무를 거부하다 ;; 미국∙영국 [ˈæbdɪkeɪt] [본문으로]
68. balance ; [자동사] 1. (무게·액수·가치 따위가) 맞다, 균형이 잡히다, 평균을 이루다, …와 같다[with]. [본문으로]
69. dedicate oneself to sth ; …에 전념하다, 몸을 바치다 [본문으로]
70. shield ; 1. [타동사] ~ sb/sth (from sb/sth) 보호하다, 가리다 [본문으로]
71. alleged ; (뚜렷한) 증거 없이 주장된 ;; [ADJ] An alleged fact has been stated but has not been proved to be true. [본문으로]
72. not bat an eye ; To not display even a hint of an emotional response, such as consternation, annoyance, sadness, joy, etc. ;; If someone does not bat an eye when something happens, they do not appear at all shocked or surprised by it [본문으로]
73. attribute ; (성질 따위를 …에) 속하게 하다, (동기·결과 따위를 어떤 원인으로) 돌리다, 기인(起因)을 (…이라고) 하다, (…의) 탓으로 하다(ascribe, assign)(to). ;; [VERB] If you attribute something to an event or situation, you think that it was caused by that event or situation. ;; 동사 [əˈtrɪbjuːt] [본문으로]
74. dubious ; 1. [대개 명사 앞에는 안 씀] ~ (about sth)/(about doing sth) (사람이) 의심하는, 미심쩍어 하는 ; 유의어 doubtful ;; 2. (못마땅함) 수상쩍은 유의어 suspicious ;; 3. 불확실한; 좋다고 할 수 없는 ;; [ADJ] If you describe something as dubious, you mean that you do not consider it to be completely honest, safe, or reliable. [본문으로]
75. scheme ; (~ (for doing sth) | ~ (to do sth)) 1. (英) (운영) 계획, 제도 ; 참조 colour scheme, pension scheme [본문으로]
76. all the way ; 1. the whole way 내내[시종] ;; 2. 완전히; 온 힘을 다해 ;; 1.during the whole journey/period of time ;; 2.completely; as much as it takes to achieve what you want [본문으로]
77. in doubt ; 1. 의심하여, 주저하며 ;; 2. 불확실하여 ; not certain [본문으로]
78. remain[keep] calm ; 평정(平靜)을 유지하다 [본문으로]
79. complimentary ; 1. 인사의, 경의를 표하는 ; 축하의, 경축하는 ; 칭찬의(laudatory). ;; 2. 아첨하는, 발라맞추는(flattering), 알랑거리는. ;; [ADJ] [usu v-link ADJ] If you are complimentary about something, you express admiration for it. ;; 미국식 [ˌkɑːm-] 영국식 [ˌkɒmplɪˈmentri] [본문으로]
80. rally ; 1. [C] (특히 어떤 생각정당을 지지하기 위한 대규모) 집회[대회] ; 참조 pep rally [본문으로]
81. energize ; 1. [타동사] 열기[열정]를 돋우다 ;; 2. [타동사] 활기[기운]를 북돋우다 ;; [VERB] To energize someone means to give them the enthusiasm and determination to do something. [본문으로]
82. gap ; 3. (사람·의견 등을 가르는) 격차[차이] ; 참조 credibility, generation gap [본문으로]
83. fade ; 1. <빛깔이> 바래다; <소리가> 사라지다; <안색이> 나빠지다; <꽃이> 시들다(wither), 쭈그러들다; <기력이> 쇠퇴하다(droop); <기억·감정 등이> 희미해지다, 꺼져가다 ((away, out)) ; 유의어 vanish ;; 2. [미] <사람이> 자취를 감추다, 어딘가로 가버리다; <물건이> 차츰 안 보이게 되다; <희망이> 사라지다 ((away, out)) [본문으로]
84. retake ; 1. 다시 잡다. ;; 2. 되찾다, 탈환하다, 회복하다(take back). [본문으로]
85. reach ; 2. [sing., U] (세력영향력 등의) 범위[권한] [본문으로]
86. persist ; 2. 지속하다, 존속하다(endure, last), 잔존하다, 살아남다(remain, survive). ;; [VERB] If something undesirable persists, it continues to exist. [본문으로]
87. grievance ; [명사] ~ (against sb) 불만[고충] (사항) ;; [NOUN] If you have a grievance about something that has happened or been done, you believe that it was unfair. ;; 미국∙영국 [ˈɡriːvəns] [본문으로]
88. motivator ; [명사] 동기를 부여하는 사람[것]. [본문으로]
89. confirmation ; [U, C] 1. 확인(무엇이 사실이거나 확정되었음을 보여주는 진술·편지 등) ;; 확증(의 사례), 증거, 증언 [본문으로]