Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Pat Toomey (R-PA) today introduced legislation to name the United States Courthouse in Harrisburg in honor of Judge Sylvia Rambo. The legislation would designate the new United States Courthouse in Harrisburg as the “Sylvia H. Rambo United States Courthouse.” The courthouse is expected to open in 2022.
Since her tenure as chief judge, Judge Rambo has advocated tirelessly for the planning, construction and funding of the new federal courthouse building in Harrisburg. In June 2018, after Senators Casey and Toomey helped to secure funding for the project, construction on the new courthouse began.
“Judge Rambo’s trailblazing career serves as an ongoing inspiration to countless young women across the Commonwealth, the Third Circuit and the entire Nation. Her dedication to the judiciary is unparalleled, and there is no better way to honor her service to our Nation than by naming the new federal courthouse in Harrisburg after her,” said Senator Casey.
“As the first woman to serve on both the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas for Cumberland County and on the bench of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Judge Rambo is a trailblazer,” said Senator Toomey. “During her time on the bench, Judge Rambo has served Pennsylvania with great integrity and distinction. I am proud to introduce this legislation honoring a Pennsylvania public servant with Senator Casey.”
Companion legislation was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by U.S. Representative Scott Perry (R-PA-10) and cosponsored by Representatives Susan Wild (D-PA-7), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1), Matt Cartwright (D-PA-8), Fred Keller (R-PA-12) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA-14). The text of the bill is available here.
Biography:
Sylvia Rambo is a Senior Judge for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. She was appointed to the federal bench by President Carter in 1979. In 1992, she became the first woman to serve as Chief Judge of the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Previously, she served on the Court of Common Pleas of Cumberland County from 1976-1978. Judge Rambo received her B.A. from Dickinson College and her J.D. from the Dickinson School of Law.
