This week on the Touro Law Review podcast we are joined by Lisa Gochman to talk about her experience arguing the landmark criminal sentencing case, Charles C. Apprendi Jr. v. New Jersey, before the highest court in this country — the United States Supreme Court. This week’s Touro Law Review Podcast episode is centered around Lisa’s compelling memoir, At the Altar of the Appellate Gods: Arguing before the US Supreme Court, which captures the terror, wonder, and joy of appearing before the nine justices in Washington, D.C.. Lisa defended the constitutionality of New Jersey’s Hate Crime Statute, which authorized the sentencing judge, rather than the jury, to consider the criminal defendant’s racial animosity toward his victims as a sentencing enhancer. This discussion follows Lisa’s fascinating experience as the case moved through the New Jersey State court system and up to the United States Supreme Court where Lisa faced a very hot bench.
Brought to you by the Touro Law Review.
Our guest today is Lisa Gochman.
Lisa Sarnoff Gochman
A graduate of the University of Rochester and Cardozo School of Law in New York City, Lisa Sarnoff Gochman is a career appellate prosecutor. After graduating law school, Lisa joined the Appellate Bureau of the Bronx District Attorney’s Office. Three years later, Lisa was sworn in as a deputy attorney general in the Office of the Attorney General, Division of Criminal Justice, Appellate Section, in Trenton, New Jersey. In March 2000, Lisa represented the State of New Jersey before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark criminal sentencing case, Charles C. Apprendi, Jr., v. New Jersey. In 2012, Lisa retired after 26 years of State service and now serves Of Counsel to the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office in Freehold, New Jersey.
Be sure to check out Lisa Gochman’s memoir, At the Altar of the Appellate Gods! https://www.amazon.com/At-Altar-Appellate-Gods-Arguing/dp/1684351952