John Andrew Kazen (born 1964) is an American lawyer from Texas who has served as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas since 2024. He previously served as a United States magistrate judge of the same court from 2018 to 2024.

Education

Kazen received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987 and a

Juris Doctor The Juris Doctor (J.D. or JD), also known as Doctor of Jurisprudence (J.D., JD, D.Jur., or DJur), is a graduate-entry professional degree in law and one of several Doctor of Law degrees. The J.D. is the standard degree obtained to practice law ...

from the University of Houston Law Center in 1990.

Career

From 1990 to 1991, Kazen served as a law clerk for Judge

Robert Manley Parker Robert Manley Parker (October 19, 1937 – August 27, 2020) was a United States federal judge, United States circuit judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Early life and education Born in Longview, Texas, Longview, ...

of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. From 1991 to 1997, he was a

civil litigator Civil law is a major branch of the law.Glanville Williams. ''Learning the Law''. Eleventh Edition. Stevens. 1982. p. 2. In common law legal systems such as England and Wales and the United States, the term refers to non-criminal law. The law rel ...

at Kemp, Smith, Duncan, & Hammond, P.C. in El Paso. From 1997 to 2018, he was a partner at the law firm he established, Kazen, Meurer, & Pérez, L.L.P. in Laredo.

Federal judicial service

Kazen was appointed as a United States magistrate judge on June 13, 2018, and sworn in by Judge Diana Saldaña on the same day. On August 30, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Kazen to serve as a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. Kazen was recommended as a district judge by Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz. On September 11, 2023, his nomination was sent to the Senate. President Biden nominated Kazen to the seat vacated by Judge

Vanessa Gilmore Vanessa Diane Gilmore (born October 26, 1956) is a former United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas. She was appointed to this position by President Bill Clinton in 1994. At that time, ...

, who retired on January 2, 2022. On October 4, 2023, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee. On October 26, 2023, his nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote. On January 8, 2024, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 73–15 vote. On January 9, 2024, his nomination was confirmed by an 83–14 vote. He received his judicial commission on January 12, 2024, and he was sworn in by Judge Saldaña on the same day.

Personal life

Kazen is the son of former Judge

George P. Kazen George Philip Kazen (February 29, 1940 – April 27, 2021) was a United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas from 1979 to 2018. Born in Laredo, Texas, Kazen received a Bachelor of Business ...

who served on the Southern District from 1979 to 2018.

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kazen, John A. 1964 births Living people 20th-century American lawyers 21st-century American judges 21st-century American lawyers Judges of the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas People from Lincoln, Nebraska Texas lawyers United States district court judges appointed by Joe Biden United States magistrate judges University of Houston Law Center alumni University of Texas at Austin alumni