Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[hiromichi]

What does "pointing to his framed judicial commission on the wall, asked them whose name was on it" mean?



In one case, he voted not to let a man pursue a discrimination claim because his lawyer, who was blind, accidentally left his name off an appeal, and a deadline expired. Ms. Kagan and fellow clerks sought to persuade Justice Marshall to change his vote until he grew annoyed and, pointing to his framed judicial commission on the wall, asked them whose name was on it.
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Hiromichi

[pugachevV]

This is an American legal question, about which I am not very familiar, but I assume his legal commission gives him the authority to act as a judge. Ms. Kagan was only a clerk at that time, as were the others who were putting pressure on him to change his mind. In essence he was saying, "I'm the Judge; I make the decisions!"

[hiromichi]

pugachevV:

I now fully understand the paragraph. Thank you very much.
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Hiromichi