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In a rare unanimous ruling, the US Supreme Court has overturned the corruption conviction of a former Virginia governor, Robert McDonnell.
在罕見的一致裁決中，美國最高法院推翻了對前弗吉尼亞州州長羅伯特·麥克唐納貪污案的定罪。
But it did so while holding its nose at the ethics of his conduct, which included accepting gifts such as a Rolex watch and a Ferrari Automobile from a company seeking access to government.
但是最高法院也對其收取禮物的行為嗤之以鼻，這其中包括接受一家試圖打通政府部門關系的一家公司饋贈的勞力士手表和法拉利跑車等禮物。
The high court's decision said the judge in Mr. McDonnell's trail failed to tell a jury that it must look only at his "official acts," or the former governor's decisions on "specific" and "unsettled" issues related to his duties.
高等法院的判決認為，主審麥克唐納案的法官沒有告知陪審團必須只審查他的“官方行為”，或者與這位前州長職責相關的“特定的”和“未確定的”問題上的決定。
Merely helping a gift-giver gain access to other officials, unless done with clear intent to pressure those officials, is not corruption, the justices found.
法官們發現，只是幫助送禮者接觸其他官員，除非出于向這些官員明確施壓的目的，否則并不構成貪污罪。
The court did suggest that accepting favors in return for opening doors is "distasteful" and "nasty."
法院確實表示，為送禮者開路并從中牟利的行為是“令人反感的”且“骯臟的”。
But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation.
但是根據《反腐敗法》的規定，必須找出具體的獲利證據，例如批準某項合同或者法規。
Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an "official act."
否則僅僅安排會面、打個電話、或者舉辦某次活動并不是“官方行為”。
The court's ruling is legally sound in defining a kind of favoritism that is not criminal.
最高法院將該事件判決為一種偏袒而不是犯罪的行為是合法的。
Elected leaders must be allowed to help supporters deal with bureaucratic problems without fear of prosecution of bribery.
被選出的政府領導人必須能幫助其支持者處理官僚體制內的問題，而不必擔心因受賄被起訴。
"The basic compact underlying representative government," wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the court, "assumes that public officials will hear from their constituents and act on their concerns."
針對此次法庭審理，首席大法官約翰·羅伯茨寫道：“代議制政府當包含這樣的契約，即公職人員會聽取選民的訴求，并努力踐行他們的關注點?！?/div>
But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government.
但是，公民及他們選舉出來的代表，而非法院，必須確保接觸政府部門的途徑是平等的，而這一判決強化了這種必要性。
Officials must not be allowed to play favorites in providing information or in arranging meetings simply because an individual or group provides a campaign donation or a personal gift.
官員不得因個人或團體提供競選捐款或私人禮物而在提供信息或安排會面時有所偏袒。
This type of integrity requires will-enforced laws in government transparency, such as records of official meetings, rules on lobbying, and information about each elected leader's source of wealth.
這種誠信需要在政府透明度上制定嚴格的法律，例如要記錄正式會議，制定游說規則，以及公布每個當選領導人的資金來源信息等等。
Favoritism in official access can fan public perceptions of corruption.
官方性的偏袒會激起關于腐敗的公眾認知。
But it is not always corruption.
但這并不總是腐敗。
Rather officials must avoid double standards, or different types of access for average people and the wealthy.
相反，官員必須避免雙重標準，或是區別對待普通人和富人。
If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society — that all are equal in treatment by government — is undermined.
如果與政府的關系可以交易、那么民主社會基本前提——政府平等對待一切，就會受到損害。
Good government rests on an understanding of the inherent worth of each individual.
良好的政府是建立在理解每個人的內在價值之上。
The court's ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.
最高法院的裁決使得與腐敗和徇私舞弊的斗爭又向前邁進一步。
