On Oct. 8, as part of Monmouth University’s Constitution Day celebrations, the School of Humanities and Social Sciences hosted author and retired appellate prosecutor Lisa Sarnoff Gochman in Pozycki Hall Auditorium. This event, the Wayne D. McMurray School of Humanities and Social Sciences Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series, was the first of its kind since before the pandemic.
The event drew in students and faculty from across campus to hear Gochman present her experience arguing the landmark case that was Apprendi v. New Jersey before the U.S. Supreme Court that took place on June 26, 2000. This wasn’t any case, but one that reshaped the national conversation on due process and judicial authority. Her memoir, “At the Altar of the Appellate Gods: Arguing before the Supreme Court,” formed the basis of her lecture and offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at what it is like to stand before the nation’s highest court.
Gochman told the audience that her purpose in writing the book was to show what most Americans never see: the human side of the courtroom.
“People really don’t know what goes on in the United States Supreme Court,” Gochman said. “They see somebody standing at the podium and speaking eloquently, but they have no idea of all the things swirling around them. I wanted to give that behind-the-scenes look.” She added that cameras are not permitted in the courtroom, leaving very few ways for the general public to see what truly happens behind those closed doors. Her memoir, she explained, is the only one written by a litigant describing the experience from that perspective.
“Nobody had written a book like that before,” she said. “I’m the one and only person who’s written about what it’s like to argue in the Supreme Court.”
Throughout her discussion, Gochman reflected on how her story might resonate with aspiring law students and those considering careers in the legal field.
“It’s so trite to say follow your dreams, but truly anything is possible,” she said. “I’m a very unlikely Supreme Court litigant. I want students to know that people go to law school without really understanding what a lawyer does, and this story helps introduce them to that world—especially appellate criminal work.”
The event also marked a milestone for Monmouth University. Professor David Golland, Dean of the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, who recently launched the Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series, said Gochman’s book was the ideal choice to relaunch the program after a multi-year hiatus.
“The book is incredibly compelling,” Golland said. “It combines a legal story with a heartfelt memoir, turning what could have been a rather dry legal tale into something deeply personal. Her work appeals directly to our pre-law and criminal justice students, which makes her a perfect fit for Monmouth.”
Golland added that the series is designed to bridge the humanities and social sciences through interdisciplinary authors whose work connects scholarship with lived experience.“Our goal is to expose students to authors making an impact in higher education and the professions,” he said. “Lisa’s talk not only commemorated Constitution Day but officially marked the return of the Distinguished Speaker Series for the first time since before the pandemic.”
He also noted that future installments will allow Monmouth faculty to help select speakers, including suggestions from new professors who recently joined the University.
“I’m curious to see who our new faculty will want to bring to campus,” Golland said. “They bring fresh perspectives and new connections that can broaden what this series becomes.”
Following Gochman’s presentation, audience members had the opportunity to ask questions and purchase signed copies of her book. The afternoon concluded with informal conversations between students, faculty, and the author.
The Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series will continue throughout the academic year, highlighting authors and scholars whose work encourages Monmouth students to think critically about culture, law, and civic responsibility.
