Georgia’s U.S. Senators John Ossoff and Raphael Warnock have introduced a bill in the U.S. Senate to rename the Federal Courthouse in Rome in honor of Judge Harold Murphy. 

“The late Judge Harold Murphy served Georgia with distinction for decades. Senator Reverend Warnock and I are introducing this bill to honor his lifetime of public service by renaming the Rome Federal Building and Courthouse in his honor,” Sen. Ossoff said a press release.

In 1971, Judge Murphy was appointed by Governor Jimmy Carter to the Superior Court for the Tallapoosa Judicial Circuit, and following his election in 1976, President Carter nominated Judge Murphy to the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 28, 1977.

For 45 years, he served his country on the Federal bench and became an acclaimed jurist and legal icon with a stellar reputation that extended far beyond Georgia. He always displayed a quick wit and a keen sense of humor, was kind and empathetic, and treated all those who appeared before him with courtesy and respect.

“More than just a renaming a building, this bill honors the late Judge Harold Murphy’s lifetime of service to the people of Georgia, the United States, and to the rule of law,” Sen. Warnock said in a press release. “Judge Murphy’s time on the bench in Georgia was defined by integrity, truth, and equal justice for all. He represented the best of us, and I am proud to join Senator Ossoff in uplifting his memory and contributions to our legal system.”

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene and Congressman Barry Loudermilk introduced the companion bill in the House, which passed in March 2024.