A couple of possibilities have been tossed around in recent months, including Massachusetts Senior Senator Edward Kennedy, and the late U.S. District Court Judge Frank Freedman, whose wife attended Monday's ceremony.

"He stayed in Boston for seven years with the hopes of bringing [the courthouse] here. His dream came true and, I wish he were here to see it," Eleanor Freedman said of her late husband.

Frank Freedman played a vital role in bringing a federal courthouse to Springfield back in 1979. The long-time judge and former mayor of Springfield died in 2003. He served on the bench for more than three decades.

School committee member Antonette Pepe is leading the push to name the courthouse after Freedman.

"We've gotten hundreds of signatures from lawyers all over the state and out of the state, and people all over the city," Pepe said.

"We've had numerous letters that have come in pertaining to Judge Freedman, and obviously Congressman Richie Neal's played a pivotal role in getting this courthouse here," said Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno.

U.S. Rep. Richard Neal (D-Springfield) is credited with seeing the $70 million courthouse to completion. He said he is in no rush to give the building a name.

"We ought to wait on naming the building far down the road. Let's enjoy the address of the United States of America," Neal said.

Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera (D-Springfield) has been leading the push to name the building in honor of Senator Edward Kennedy. She could not be reached for comment Monday, but while many would not mind naming the building after Kennedy, some are convinced Freedman is the best choice.

"We're talking a courthouse that someone brought here years ago, and today we probably wouldn't be standing here if it wasn't for Judge Freedman," Pepe said.

Sarno said the naming of the courthouse is a federal decision, not a local one. Rep. Neal did not say when the issue of naming the building will be addressed.