U.S. General Services Administration
GSA, Senator Cornyn, Congressman Cuellar and Judiciary host dedication ceremony for federal courthouse in Laredo
LAREDO, Texas — The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) along with U.S. Senator John Cornyn, U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar and the U.S. District Courts today joined to commemorate the renaming of the Laredo Federal Building and United States Courthouse to the George P. Kazen Federal Building and United States Courthouse.
“By all measures Judge Kazen has been an outstanding jurist and pillar of the community,” said GSA’s Public Buildings Service Commissioner Dan Mathews. “Naming the federal building and courthouse in his honor will remind generations to come of his integrity and service to our nation.”
“I commend Judge Kazen on a lifetime of service,” said U.S. Senator Cornyn. “It is my hope the courthouse will inspire residents of Laredo to reflect on one of Texas’ best – to stand up a little taller, to reach out a little further, and to do what is right when it comes to helping their neighbor.”
“Judge Kazen is an honest, humble, and dedicated man,” said U.S. Congressman Henry Cuellar. “He is among the most respected judges in the country, and consistently ruled with fairness, all the while still making time to serve in numerous civic organizations throughout South Texas. The dedicating of this federal building and U.S. Courthouse will serve as a reminder to us all of this great man of character who dutifully serves his community. I would like to thank Senators Cornyn and Cruz for joining me in supporting the legislation which lead to this renaming, and in doing so, solidifying a lasting testament to Judge George P. Kazen, who has given so much to this country.”
“When Judge Kazen was appointed to the bench in 1979, he was the only federal judge in the small town of Laredo,” said U.S. District Judge Diana Saldaña. “Not only did he manage one of the highest caseloads in the country with efficiency and care, he also volunteered his time and talents to numerous legal and community organizations that have helped Laredo grow and thrive. Though his legacy is far larger than the one building we are dedicating today, it is our hope that the renamed courthouse will remind the community of the values Judge Kazen has personified throughout his career: integrity, faith, and dedication.”
George P. Kazen:
-
A native of Laredo, Judge Kazen graduated valedictorian at the age of 15 from
St. Joseph’s High School in 1955 before earning his bachelor’s and law degrees at the University of Texas. -
Judge Kazen began his legal career as a briefing attorney for the Texas Supreme Court before joining the airforce as a JAG officer. He soon rose to the rank of captain and was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal in 1965.
-
Upon completing his military service, Judge Kazen entered private practice in Laredo. He also founded the Laredo Legal Aid Society in 1970, was elected president of the Laredo Bar Association and served as a member of the Laredo Chamber of Commerce.
-
In 1979, Judge Kazen was appointed to the federal judiciary by President Jimmy Carter. Only four years after taking the bench, he was selected to serve as president of the Fifth Circuit District Judges Association.
-
1986, Judge Kazen was selected to represent the Fifth Circuit before the United States Sentencing Commission and in 1990 was appointed to the Judicial Conference Committee on Criminal Law, which he would later chair.
-
From 1996 to 2003, Judge Kazen served a celebrated term as Chief Judge of the Southern District of Texas.
-
In 2003, the Chief Justice appointed him to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a national tribunal that rules on the federal government’s applications for foreign intelligence investigations. He served in this key national-security role for seven years.
-
Judge Kazen formally took senior status in 2009 but remained one of the most active judges in the country, handling a third of the Laredo Division’s criminal and civil dockets until his retirement last year in 2017.
About GSA: The mission of the U.S. General Services Administration is to deliver value and savings in real estate, acquisition, technology, and other mission-support services across government.
###