U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia
Court Information at a Glance
Davis & Hoss’s federal criminal defense attorneys represent clients charged in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, from the first appearance through trial, sentencing, and appeal. From our Chattanooga office at 850 Fortwood Street, we represent clients from nearby North Georgia communities, including Rossville, Fort Oglethorpe, Ringgold, and Dalton.
The United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is the federal trial court for 46 North Georgia counties, organized into the Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan, and Rome Divisions. Federal cases from Catoosa, Dade, Walker, Whitfield, and other northwest Georgia counties are generally heard in the Rome Division at the Harold L. Murphy Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 600 East First Street. A summons, indictment, release order, or court notice should identify the division, case number, assigned judge, and scheduled hearing.
Current official court sources identify Kevin P. Weimer as District Court Executive and Clerk of Court. The Rome Division Clerk’s Office can be reached at 706-378-4060 for questions about dockets, scheduling, and court dates.
In a North Georgia federal case, the first hearing in Rome or Atlanta can set the terms of release and the pace of everything that follows.
Federal district courts are the trial courts of the federal system. Criminal cases in this district are prosecuted by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, which maintains a Rome Division office, and often follow investigations by agencies such as the FBI, DEA, ATF, IRS Criminal Investigation, or Homeland Security Investigations. Appeals from the district court go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. The charging document, whether a complaint, information, or indictment, should be reviewed early to understand the charges and the next court step.
How Davis & Hoss Can Help With a Case in This Court
Davis & Hoss has handled state and federal criminal cases for more than 35 years. Our attorneys represent clients in federal court in Georgia and Tennessee and understand how the Northern District’s local rules, detention practices, and sentencing procedures can affect a case.
We review the government’s evidence early, challenge unlawful searches and weak charges, prepare for detention and sentencing hearings, and keep clients informed at every stage. Call (423) 266-0605 to discuss a federal investigation or pending charge.
Official Court Contact
Harold L. Murphy Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
600 East First Street
Rome, GA 30161
Clerk: Kevin P. Weimer
Rome Division Phone: 706-378-4060
Have an Upcoming Appearance?
Have the indictment or summons, release order, and current court notice available when requesting a case review.
Four Steps Before Your Federal Court Date
Northern District of Georgia notices can send you to one of four courthouses, so start with the paperwork in hand and confirm the details with your lawyer or the clerk for that division.
Review the Papers
Find the division name, case number, assigned judge, hearing type, and the date and time on your notice or release order.
Confirm the Date
Call the Rome Division Clerk’s Office at 706-378-4060, or the office for the division on your notice, when the setting, courtroom, or division is unclear.
Collect Documents
Gather your government-issued photo ID, the charging papers, your bond or release conditions, and any letters from U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services.
Plan the Trip
Allow time for parking and security screening at 600 East First Street in Rome or the courthouse listed on your notice.
Federal Charges Heard in the Northern District of Georgia
Davis & Hoss represents people facing federal drug, firearm, white-collar, fraud, and other criminal charges in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
Federal Wire Fraud Defense
Wire fraud cases in North Georgia often grow out of online sales, investment pitches, and pandemic-relief programs. We examine the emails, bank records, and loss figures the government relies on, because the claimed loss amount drives the sentencing range.
Federal Bank Fraud Defense
Bank fraud charges in the Northern District of Georgia can involve loan applications, check schemes, or account activity across Georgia and Tennessee banks. We test whether the government can prove intent to defraud a federally insured institution.
Federal Drug Violations Defense
Drug cases from the I-75 corridor through Catoosa, Whitfield, Gordon, and Bartow counties can be charged federally, particularly after multi-agency task-force investigations. We review stops, searches, wiretaps, and drug-quantity findings that control mandatory minimums.
Federal Firearms Offenses Defense
Felon-in-possession, straw-purchase, and gun-with-drugs charges are common federal firearm cases in North Georgia. We look closely at how the firearm was found, who possessed it, and whether a prior conviction actually qualifies.
Federal White Collar Offenses Defense
Embezzlement, tax, healthcare billing, and money-laundering cases in this district often involve large document productions. We work through the records to find gaps in the government’s theory of intent and loss.
Federal Cyber Crimes Defense
Federal cyber cases can involve computer intrusion, identity theft, online fraud, or digital-evidence searches. We review how devices and accounts were searched and whether the warrants and forensic methods hold up.
Federal Violent Offenses Defense
Robbery, carjacking, and violent-crime charges brought in federal court often carry steep mandatory sentences, especially when a firearm count is added. We challenge identification, the federal hook for jurisdiction, and stacked charges.
Federal Public Corruption Defense
Bribery, kickback, and honest-services fraud cases against public officials and contractors are prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia. We defend clients from the investigation stage, including grand jury subpoenas and target letters.
Appellate Practice
Appeals from the Northern District of Georgia go to the Eleventh Circuit, which has its own briefing rules and short deadlines. We review the trial record for preserved errors, sentencing mistakes, and issues worth raising on appeal.
Got a Federal Court Date Coming Up?
Use these tips to prepare for a hearing at the Rome courthouse or another Northern District of Georgia location. Always follow the court’s order, the judge’s instructions, and your lawyer’s advice first.
Plan the Drive to Rome
Rome is roughly 70 miles from Chattanooga by way of U.S. 27, about a 90-minute drive. Leave extra time for traffic, parking, and the security line so you are not late when your case is called.
Confirm the Division and Courthouse
Check whether your notice lists the Atlanta, Gainesville, Newnan, or Rome Division. Each division has its own courthouse, and northwest Georgia cases are often set in Rome.
Carry Photo ID
The court requires a government-issued picture ID at the entrance. Keep it with your notice and release paperwork.
Leave Camera Phones Behind
Phones and other devices with cameras are not allowed past security in this district. Leave them in your vehicle or ask your lawyer about options before you arrive.
Keep to Your Release Conditions
Pretrial conditions can include travel limits, reporting to Pretrial Services, drug testing, and no-contact orders. A violation can lead to a revocation hearing, so ask your lawyer before making changes.
Talk Only to Your Lawyer About the Case
Hallways and lobbies are not private. Avoid discussing your case with agents, prosecutors, witnesses, or family members while at the courthouse.
Follow Courtroom Staff Directions
The courtroom deputy, U.S. Marshals, and court security officers will tell you where to sit and when to stand. Speak only when the judge or your lawyer asks you to.
Prepare Questions Ahead of Time
Before the hearing, ask your lawyer what will happen, whether family may attend, and whether you need to bring anything or sign forms.
Before entering the courthouse: Confirm the date, time, location, appearance requirement, device policy, and any case-specific instruction with your lawyer or the Rome Division Clerk’s Office at 706-378-4060.
Northern District of Georgia Divisions, Judges & Court Information
Judges, Locations, and Court-Date Information
The court’s official judge directory lists Chief Judge Leigh Martin May along with more than a dozen active and senior district judges. Magistrate judges, led by Chief Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand, often handle initial appearances, detention hearings, and other pretrial matters. Most judges are stationed in Atlanta, so check your notice for where your hearing will actually be held. Court personnel can change, so the assigned judge should be confirmed on the case docket.
The district is divided into four divisions. The division that hears a case generally depends on the county where the alleged offense occurred.
Location and Contact Information
Rome Division
Harold L. Murphy Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
600 East First Street, Rome, Georgia 30161
Phone: 706-378-4060
Counties: Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield
Atlanta Division
Richard B. Russell Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
75 Ted Turner Drive SW, Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: 404-215-1660
Gainesville Division
Sidney O. Smith Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
121 Spring Street SE, Room 201, Gainesville, Georgia 30501
Phone: 678-450-2760
Newnan Division
Lewis R. Morgan Federal Building & U.S. Courthouse
18 Greenville Street, Newnan, Georgia 30263
Phone: 678-423-3060
Clerk’s Office Hours
The court lists Clerk’s Office hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding federal holidays. Call ahead to confirm hours for your division.
Court Schedule
Federal hearings are set by the assigned judge for each case. Check your most recent court notice, ask your lawyer, or contact the Clerk’s Office for your division to confirm the date, time, and courtroom.
Court Proceedings
A federal criminal case may include an initial appearance, a detention hearing, arraignment, discovery, pretrial motions, a change-of-plea hearing or trial, and sentencing under the advisory U.S. Sentencing Guidelines. The next step depends on the charges and the current stage of the case. For a closer look at how federal cases move forward, read our complete guide to navigating federal charges.
How a case is handled can depend on the specific charges, the assigned judge, and the court’s local rules.
Courtroom Rules
Expect airport-style screening at the entrance of the Harold L. Murphy Federal Building and every other division courthouse. Cell phones and other electronic devices with cameras are not allowed beyond the security checkpoints.
Stand when the judge enters, stay seated and quiet while other cases are heard, and keep food and drinks out of the courtroom.
What to Wear
Choose business or business-casual clothing. Judges and jurors notice how defendants present themselves.
Skip hats, sunglasses, shorts, and clothing with slogans or images that could be seen as offensive.
Payment Information
In Northern District of Georgia criminal cases, special assessments, fines, and restitution are generally paid through the Clerk of Court. Confirm the amount due, accepted payment methods, and deadlines with your lawyer or the Clerk’s Office before submitting payment.
Clerk of Court
Kevin P. Weimer is listed as District Court Executive and Clerk of Court for the Northern District of Georgia. The Rome Division office handles Rome Division matters.
Address:
600 East First Street
Rome, Georgia 30161
Phone: 706-378-4060
Northern District of Georgia Federal Court FAQs
Where is the Northern District of Georgia federal courthouse closest to Chattanooga?
The Rome Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia is located in the Harold L. Murphy Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 600 East First Street, Rome, Georgia 30161. It hears federal cases from northwest Georgia counties near Chattanooga, including Catoosa, Dade, Walker, and Whitfield.
Which division will hear my federal case?
The division generally depends on where the alleged offense occurred. The Rome Division covers Bartow, Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Paulding, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties. Other cases are heard in the Atlanta, Gainesville, or Newnan Divisions.
How do I verify a federal court date?
Ask your lawyer or call the Clerk’s Office for your division. The Rome Division office can be reached at 706-378-4060. Have the defendant’s full name, case number, and current court paperwork available.
Who are the judges in the Northern District of Georgia?
The court’s current directory lists Chief Judge Leigh Martin May along with more than a dozen active and senior district judges and a group of magistrate judges led by Chief Magistrate Judge Justin S. Anand. Most judges are based in Atlanta. Court personnel can change, so the assigned judge should be confirmed on the docket.
What happens at an initial appearance?
In the Northern District of Georgia, a U.S. magistrate judge usually conducts the first appearance, explains the charges and rights, addresses whether counsel is retained or appointed through the Federal Defender Program or a panel attorney, and sets release terms or schedules a detention hearing.
Will I be held in custody before trial?
Not necessarily. Under the federal Bail Reform Act, a magistrate judge decides whether any conditions, such as a bond, travel limits, or location monitoring, can reasonably assure that the person will appear and that the community will be safe. Certain drug and firearm charges carry a presumption of detention, so preparing a release plan before the hearing matters.
What should I bring to federal court?
Bring government-issued photo identification, the indictment or summons, your release order, and any court notices. Cell phones and other electronic devices with cameras are not allowed beyond the courthouse security checkpoints.
Can a federal conviction or sentence be appealed?
Appeals from the Northern District of Georgia go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Atlanta. Notice-of-appeal deadlines in criminal cases are short. A defendant generally has 14 days after the judgment is entered to file a notice of appeal, so appeal issues should be discussed with counsel promptly. Learn more about our federal appellate practice.
Does Davis & Hoss handle cases in other federal courts?
Yes. In addition to the Northern District of Georgia, Davis & Hoss represents clients in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee, and other federal court locations as cases demand. Contact our team to discuss where your case is pending.
Related court information: Federal Court Services, Federal Appellate Practice, Federal Drug Defense, Federal Firearm Defense, White-Collar Defense, Chattanooga Criminal Defense, Rossville Municipal Court, and Fort Oglethorpe Municipal Court.
This page provides general information, not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court information can change; confirm details with the Clerk’s Office or your lawyer.