Stockton Students Witness Supreme Court DOMA Arguments Firsthand

Two Richard Stockton College of New Jersey students heard arguments on the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) before the Supreme Court on Wednesday, March 27, and camped out in near-freezing temperatures to do so, according to college representatives.

Nicole Chamra, 21, of Carteret and Taylor Ruggieri, 21, of Flemington, were among hundreds of people waiting to get inside the courtroom in Washington, D.C. while thousands more waited outside. The ages of those in line ranged from the 30s to the 70s.

“We were not able to get into the arguments (on Tuesday) for Prop. 8 because we were Numbers 122 and 123 in line – and they only allowed 64 people in,” said Chamra, a political science major who plans to attend New York Law School next fall. “So we stayed there all night and it was unbearably freezing. We couldn’t feel our hands or feet. We only had a couple of throw blankets and layers of long-sleeved shirts, but no big coats, hats or gloves. .. We got in today, because we were Numbers 45 and 46, and they cut off at 50.”

Ruggieri is a psychology major with minors in political science and women’s, gender, sexuality studies.

“It was definitely a once- in-a-lifetime experience and opportunity,” Chamra said. “We felt it was important to be in something that was literally marking history.”

“It was so worth it,” Ruggieri said. “I go to a liberal church at home and was raised around all different types of people – all different kinds of love. Knowing that gay people still don’t have the same rights made me want to go and support same-sex marriage.”

“I’m so proud of them for taking this initiative. This level of engagement and passion about issues is truly extraordinary,” Stockton Associate Professor of Political Science Linda Wharton said.

The Supreme Court justices expressed concern about the federal law defining marriage as being between a man and a woman, and the students expressed their opinions on their view of the historic proceedings.

“In the beginning it seemed so cut and dry – 5-4 against DOMA,” Ruggieri said. “Then all of a sudden, Justice Kennedy asked one question about federalism and if DOMA brought up issues of federalism… and Nikki and I were sitting there getting so uncomfortable with the anti-DOMA answer they got from the solicitor general and the main attorney for the plaintiff. It was at that point it seemed it could flip either way. Seems like it all comes down to Justice Kennedy.”

 The students appreciated the historic process they waited so long to witness.

“Outside of that, it was an honor to be there and a phenomenal, life-changing experience – a moment in history we were there for,” Ruggieri said. “Hopefully in June, when the decision comes out, it will be for what we believe in.”