George P. Kazen | |
|---|---|
| Senior Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | |
| In office May 31, 2009 – March 9, 2018 | |
| Judge of theUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court | |
| In office July 15, 2003 – May 18, 2010 | |
| Appointed by | William Rehnquist |
| Preceded by | William Henry Stafford Jr. |
| Succeeded by | Martin Leach-Cross Feldman |
| Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | |
| In office 1996–2003 | |
| Preceded by | Norman William Black |
| Succeeded by | Hayden Wilson Head Jr. |
| Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas | |
| In office May 11, 1979 – May 31, 2009 | |
| Appointed by | Jimmy Carter |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629 |
| Succeeded by | Diana Saldaña |
| Personal details | |
| Born | George Philip Kazen (1940-02-29)February 29, 1940 Laredo, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | April 27, 2021(2021-04-27) (aged 81) Laredo, Texas, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Relatives | John A. Kazen (son) |
| Education | University of Texas at Austin (BBA,JD) |
George Philip Kazen (February 29, 1940 – April 27, 2021) was aUnited States district judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas from 1979 to 2018.
Born inLaredo, Texas, Kazen received aBachelor of Business Administration from theUniversity of Texas in 1960 and aJuris Doctor from theUniversity of Texas School of Law in 1961. He was a briefing attorney for theTexas Supreme Court from 1961 to 1962, and was then a Captain in theU.S. Air Force, JAG Corps, from 1962 to 1965. He was in private practice inLaredo, Texas from 1965 to 1979.[1]
On March 7, 1979, Kazen was nominated by PresidentJimmy Carter to a new seat on theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas created by 92 Stat. 1629. He was confirmed by theUnited States Senate on May 10, 1979, and received his commission the following day. He served as chief judge from 1996 to 2003.[1] He served as a judge of theForeign Intelligence Surveillance Court from 2003 to 2010.[2] He assumedsenior status on May 31, 2009.[1] Kazen was an adjunct professor of law atSt. Mary's University Law School from 1990 to 2021. After his retirement in 2018, the federal courthouse in Laredo was renamed in his honor.[3][4] He died on April 27, 2021, aged 81.[5]
Kazen's uncle,Abraham Kazen, was aDemocratic member of theUnited States House of Representatives from 1967 to 1985.[6]
Shortly following his retirement in 2018, Kazen's son John was named as a magistrate judge of the Southern District of Texas.[7] On August 30, 2023, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate JudgeJohn A. Kazen to a full district judgeship on the same court.[8]
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Seat established by 92 Stat. 1629 | Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas 1979–2009 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Judge of theUnited States District Court for the Southern District of Texas 1996–2003 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Judge of theUnited States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court 2003–2010 | Succeeded by |