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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.
在罕见的一致裁决中，美国最高法院推翻了对前弗吉尼亚州州长罗伯特·麦克唐纳贪污案的定罪。
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.
但是最高法院也对其收取礼物的行为嗤之以鼻，这其中包括接受一家试图打通政府部门关系的一家公司馈赠的劳力士手表和法拉利跑车等礼物。
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.
高等法院的判决认为，主审麦克唐纳案的法官没有告知陪审团必须只审查他的“官方行为”，或者与这位前州长职责相关的“特定的”和“未确定的”问题上的决定。
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.
法官们发现，只是帮助送礼者接触其他官员，除非出于向这些官员明确施压的目的，否则并不构成贪污罪。
The court did suggest that accepting favors in return for opening doors is "distasteful" and "nasty."
法院确实表示，为送礼者开路并从中牟利的行为是“令人反感的”且“肮脏的”。
But under anti-bribery laws, proof must be made of concrete benefits, such as approval of a contract or regulation.
但是根据《反腐败法》的规定，必须找出具体的获利证据，例如批准某项合同或者法规。
Simply arranging a meeting, making a phone call, or hosting an event is not an "official act."
否则仅仅安排会面、打个电话、或者举办某次活动并不是“官方行为”。
The court's ruling is legally sound in defining a kind of favoritism that is not criminal.
最高法院将该事件判决为一种偏袒而不是犯罪的行为是合法的。
Elected leaders must be allowed to help supporters deal with bureaucratic problems without fear of prosecution of bribery.
被选出的政府领导人必须能帮助其支持者处理官僚体制内的问题，而不必担心因受贿被起诉。
"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."
针对此次法庭审理，首席大法官约翰·罗伯茨写道：“代议制政府当包含这样的契约，即公职人员会听取选民的诉求，并努力践行他们的关注点。”
But the ruling reinforces the need for citizens and their elected representatives, not the courts, to ensure equality of access to government.
但是，公民及他们选举出来的代表，而非法院，必须确保接触政府部门的途径是平等的，而这一判决强化了这种必要性。
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.
官员不得因个人或团体提供竞选捐款或私人礼物而在提供信息或安排会面时有所偏袒。
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.
这种诚信需要在政府透明度上制定严格的法律，例如要记录正式会议，制定游说规则，以及公布每个当选领导人的资金来源信息等等。
Favoritism in official access can fan public perceptions of corruption.
官方性的偏袒会激起关于腐败的公众认知。
But it is not always corruption.
但这并不总是腐败。
Rather officials must avoid double standards, or different types of access for average people and the wealthy.
相反，官员必须避免双重标准，或是区别对待普通人和富人。
If connections can be bought, a basic premise of democratic society — that all are equal in treatment by government — is undermined.
如果与政府的关系可以交易、那么民主社会基本前提——政府平等对待一切，就会受到损害。
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个人的内在价值之上。
The court's ruling is a step forward in the struggle against both corruption and official favoritism.
最高法院的裁决使得与腐败和徇私舞弊的斗争又向前迈进一步。
