He was a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court from 1961 to 1962, and was then a Captain in the U.S. Air Force, JAG Corps, from 1962 to 1965.
[1] On March 7, 1979, Kazen was nominated by President Jimmy Carter to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas created by 92 Stat.
He was confirmed by the United States Senate on May 10, 1979, and received his commission the following day.
[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 Judge John A. Kazen to a full district judgeship on the same court.