John A. Houston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Allen Houston
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| Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California | |
| Assumed office February 6, 2018 |
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| Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California | |
| In office October 7, 2003 – February 6, 2018 |
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| Appointed by | George W. Bush |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 116 Stat. 1758 |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Bermudez Montenegro |
| Magistrate Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California | |
| In office 1998–2003 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Allen Houston
February 6, 1952 Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Education | North Carolina A & T State University (BS) University of Miami (JD) |
John Allen Houston (born February 6, 1952) is a respected judge in the United States. He currently serves as a senior United States district judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California. This means he is a very experienced judge who handles important cases in that area.
Early Life and School
John Allen Houston was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He attended Lincoln Junior High School and Ben. L. Smith High School. He earned a college degree, a Bachelor of Science, from North Carolina A & T State University in 1974. Later, in 1977, he received his law degree, called a Juris Doctor, from the University of Miami School of Law.
John Houston's Career
After finishing law school, John Houston joined the United States Army. He worked in the Judge Advocate General Corps from 1978 to 1981. This is where lawyers in the military work. He also served in the Army Reserve, which is like a part-time military service, from 1981 to 2003.
From 1981 to 1998, he worked as an assistant United States attorney. This means he was a lawyer who represented the U.S. government in court. He worked for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of California. For several years, from 1987 to 1994, he led a special group called the Chief Asset Forfeiture Unit. This unit dealt with taking away money or property that was gained illegally.
Becoming a Federal Judge
In 1998, John Houston became a United States magistrate judge for the United States District Court in San Diego. A magistrate judge helps district judges with many tasks, like handling initial hearings and smaller cases. He served in this role until 2003.
On May 1, 2003, President George W. Bush chose him to become a United States district judge for the same court. A district judge presides over trials and makes decisions in federal cases. The United States Senate then approved his nomination on October 2, 2003. He officially started his new job as a district judge on October 7, 2003.
On February 6, 2018, Judge Houston took on a new role called "senior status". When a federal judge takes senior status, they can reduce their workload but still hear cases. This allows them to continue serving the court with their experience.
See also
Sources
- John A. Houston at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
| Legal offices | ||
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| Preceded by Seat established by 116 Stat. 1758 |
Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of California 2003–2018 |
Succeeded by Ruth Bermudez Montenegro |
