At the Altar of the Appellate Gods: Arguing before the US Supreme Court captures the terror, wonder, and joy of preparing for and arguing a landmark criminal case before the nine justices of the United States Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. At the Altar of the Appellate Gods traces the arc of a violent, racially motivated crime by a white supremacist in rural Vineland, New Jersey, through the New Jersey state court system, and all the way up to the United States Supreme Court where Gochman defended the constitutionality of New Jersey's Hate Crime Statute before very hot bench. Gochman went head-to-head with Justice Antonin Scalia, fielded tough questions from Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and strolled down memory lane with Justice Sandra Day O'Connor. Told with humor and humility, At the Altar of the Appellate Gods will interest anyone who is curious about the inner workings of our court system and what it is really like to bring a case before the highest court in the country.

Supported by the Dr. Matthew E. and Ruth Harmon Fairbank Alumni Lectureship Fund

5:00 p.m. - Reception
5:30 p.m. - Lecture
Humanities Center Conference Room D
Rush Rhees Library