Kali Morgan and Surendran K. Pattel Kali Morgan of Fresno, and Richmond trial and appellate litigator Surendran K. Pattel, competing in the race for the 505th District Court in Richmond. Courtesy photos.

One Democratic candidate in the runoff for Fort Bend County's 505th District Court is running on her family law experience, while her opponent says his multicultural background will better serve the area's diverse population.

Kali Morgan and Surendran K. Pattel are candidates in the Democratic runoff for the Richmond-based family district court. Whoever wins will run against Republican candidate David S. Perwin in November's general election.

Texas Lawyer is publishing Q&As with the judicial candidates in party runoffs. Early voting is June 29 to July 10, and election day is July 14.

Pattel, an Indian-American who's an immigrant, holds law degrees and trial law experience from both India and the United States.

"I have a special connection with every man, woman and child who feels intimidated when he or she enters an American courtroom," Pattel wrote. "It is this empathy that must be present in family-oriented 505th District Court."

Morgan argues that she has more family law experience, which better qualifies her for a family law bench.

"I have represented mothers, fathers, grandparents, and the state in contested family law matters in multiple counties," Morgan wrote. "In addition to knowing the law, I also understand the nuances and complexities that often come with these cases."

Here are the Q&As for Morgan and Pattel.

Read more: Texas Voters: Meet the Candidates Running for Judge in July Primary Runoffs

Kali Morgan

What is a brief biography of work experience, educational qualifications and career honors that you want voters to know about?

Kali Morgan Kali Morgan. Courtesy photo

I have practiced family law almost exclusively since becoming licensed. During the first half of my career, I owned The Law Office of Kali R. Morgan where I provided low cost and pro bono legal services to those who could not afford typical attorney fees. My practice was devoted exclusively to family law matters. I left private practice after being offered a position as an assistant disciplinary counsel (trial attorney) with the State Bar of Texas, Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel. In that role, I represented the Commission for Lawyer Discipline in attorney grievance proceedings, both administratively and in the courts. In 2014, I accepted a position as regional attorney for the Department of Family and Protective Services. In addition to providing direct representation in court in child welfare and other complex family law proceedings, I also serve as in-house counsel for department employees within my assigned areas of responsibility. Throughout my career, I have provided legal training and ethical guidance to attorneys, state bar grievance committee members, state employees and external stakeholders. I have also presented at continuing legal education courses on the topic of legal ethics.

Why do you want this position?

I want to restore trust in the judicial system, particularly as it relates to cases involving children. Decisions made in family court often have an immediate and lasting impact on everyone involved. Our families and children deserve judges who are committed to doing the right thing and to making the best possible decision in every case. If elected, I will be fair and impartial, and I will hold everyone accountable to the law and to the orders of the court. I believe that I am the type of person that families deserve to have on the bench.

How are you different or better suited for the bench than your opponent?

The 505th is a family court. I am a family law attorney with real experience handling family cases. I have represented mothers, fathers, grandparents, and the state in contested family law matters in multiple counties. In addition to knowing the law, I also understand the nuances and complexities that often come with these cases. I have several years' experience managing court dockets and advising on emergency legal matters involving children. I am called upon to make tough decisions involving families and children every day, and I am comfortable doing so. Throughout my career, I have consistently maintained high ethical and professional standards, and I will continue to do so on the bench. I will be fair, impartial, compassionate and consistent. I am rational, level-headed and committed to making the best possible decision in every case. I will be ready to get to work on day one.

How would you go about managing this court's docket efficiently and effectively?

I will require time announcements in every case, and I will prioritize hearings by urgency and estimated time. I will allow more agreements to be heard by submission, thus freeing up the court's time for contested matters. I would also require attorneys to be respectful of their client's and opposing counsel's time so that people are not sitting in the courtroom all day waiting on people to show up. In my current position, I am responsible for managing dockets in multiple counties. I have some creative ideas to make things easier for everyone that I will implement if I am elected.

Where can voters go for more information about you?

Surendran K. Pattel

What is a brief biography of work experience, educational qualifications and career honors that you want voters to know about?

Surendran K. Pattel Surendran K. Pattel. Courtesy photo

I am an attorney with more than two decades of experience on two continents. As an attorney with degrees from the University of Calicut in India and a master's degree in international law from the University of Houston Law Center, I have the background, the experience and the mindset to serve the multicultural interests of Fort Bend County's diverse population. Ours is a community in which many of our friends and neighbors have personal history in two or more different countries and cultures. Since my arrival in Fort Bend, I have represented clients of varied backgrounds and circumstances via my own office and in conjunction with other attorneys in courtrooms in Fort Bend, Harris and Brazoria counties. In India, I practiced law in Kerala in South India, then in New Delhi, where I argued numerous cases before the Supreme Court of India. I am both a trial lawyer and an appellate lawyer. My main areas of practice deal with family law, real estate, civil law and criminal defense.

Why do you want this position?

As a husband and father, I feel I have the temperament and understanding, coupled with the appropriate professional experience, to serve as judge of the family-oriented 505th Judicial District Court, Fort Bend County. The theme of my campaign is "justice with compassion." There can be no greater judicial attribute than compassion in applying the law—working to assure a fair and just hearing and outcome—in the myriad emotionally charged issues that are the daily concerns of this court. This is how and where I wish to serve my community and its people.

How are you different or better suited for the bench than your opponent?

I am an Indian-American, an immigrant and a man of color, in many ways the personification of Fort Bend's much-heralded diversity. As such, I have a special connection with every man, woman and child who feels intimidated when he or she enters an American courtroom. It is this empathy that must be present in family-oriented 505th District Court.

I am a husband, a father, a son, a brother and an uncle with family in two countries; it seems only natural that I have gravitated to family law in much of my practice. Like so many of my Fort Bend friends and neighbors, I am a proud American with footprints in two different cultures.

I have educational credentials from both India and the United States, as well as more than two decades' experience as a trial lawyer and an appellate attorney on two continents. I have two mediation certifications, one of them specifically related to family matters. In addition to my undergraduate and law degrees, I have a master's degree in international law from University of Houston Law Center, which can be invaluable when jurisdictional issues complicate a case.

Fort Bend is my adopted home, my community, and I want to serve its diverse population.

How would you go about managing this court's docket efficiently and effectively?

Based on my professional experiences and observations in and around courtrooms, I believe that the judge and his or her staff must prioritize deadlines and meet them in both pretrial preparations and courtroom proceedings. Employing basic time-management skills with well-communicated expectations to all involved can help to minimize potentially costly delays and reduce court backlogs. Clearly, the judge must be a leader, setting a good example, in pursuit of efficiency and effective management.

Where can voters go for more information about you?