John A. Houston

Houston was born in Greensboro, North Carolina. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from North Carolina A & T State University in 1974. In 1977 received a Juris Doctor from the University of Miami School of Law.

Houston served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General Corps from 1978 to 1981. Judge Houston later served in the Army Reserve from 1981 to 2003. In 1981 he became an Assistant United States Attorney of the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, until 1987. He was a Chief Asset Forfeiture Unit, U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California from 1987 to 1994. From 1994-1996, Judge Houston was a Senior Counsel for Asset Forfeiture for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California, from 1994 to 1996. Then, from 1996–1998, he became a Senior Financial Litigation Counsel for the U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of California.

From 1998 to 2003, Houston served as a United States Magistrate Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of California in San Diego. He was nominated by President George W. Bush on May 1, 2003 to be a United States District Judge of the same court. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on October 2, 2003, and received his commission on October 7, 2003. He assumed senior status on February 6, 2018.

• John A. Houston at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a public domain publication of the Federal Judicial Center.