Federal building in Elizabeth City to be named for retired judge

ELIZABETH CITY, N.C.

The federal courthouse on Main Street will be named in honor of retired Superior Court Judge J. Herbert W. Small, according to a news release from U.S. Rep. G.K. Butterfield’s office.

In 2007, Butterfield submitted legislation to give the unnamed federal building Small’s name.

“It came as a great surprise to me,” Small said in 2007. “I’m sort of overwhelmed by the thought of it.”

Small served for more than 25 years as an elected Superior Court judge and district attorney in the 1st Judicial District. He also worked as special counsel to the Congressional Committee on Intergovernmental Relations and served eight years as Pasquotank County’s attorney.

Small began practicing law in Elizabeth City after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law in 1949.

He also served three years in the Navy during World War II.

The J. Herbert Small Federal Building name received the president’s signature Tuesday, according to Butterfield’s news release. The legislation was approved by the House of Representatives in March and recently won Senate approval.

A formal dedication ceremony is being planned.