In the Democratic race for the 339th Criminal District Court in Houston, candidate Te'iva Bell claims that her criminal law experience sets her apart, while opponent Candance White stresses her broad range of experience including work as a municipal court judge.

Bell and White seek the Democratic nomination for the Houston-based criminal court. Whoever wins will face incumbent Judge Jesse McClure, a Republican, in the November election.

White writes that as a municipal court judge she has handled large dockets, and has also practiced law for 25 years.

"I will bring a fresh lens to the criminal justice system because of my varied experience," White wrote. "My experience in working with the most vulnerable citizens of our society has equipped me to deal with some of the most challenging legal and practical decisions."

But Bell wrote that White has no criminal law experience.

"For the last 15 years, I have practiced criminal law in Harris County. I currently serve as a public defender and have served as a private practice criminal defense lawyer and as a prosecutor in Harris County," wrote Bell. "I have handled thousands of cases and tried more than 50 cases, from low level misdemeanors to murders."

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

Here are the Q&As for Bell and White.

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

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Te'iva Bell

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

Te'iva Bell Te'iva Bell. Courtesy photo

I began my career as an assistant district attorney where I tried both felony and misdemeanor cases. After leaving the district attorney's office, I went to practice as a criminal defense attorney. In 2011, I joined the public defender's office as a member of the felony trial section, where I try felony cases ranging from possession of controlled substances to murder. I have handled thousands of cases and have tried well in excess of 50 felony cases.

I attended Spelman College for undergraduate school and the University of Iowa College of Law for law school. While serving as a public defender, I was invited to attend the Gerry Spence Trial Lawyers College in Dubois Wyoming on a scholarship after one of its instructors set in on one of my trials.

I speak at continuing legal education courses on various criminal legal topics and routinely speak in the community and to students about criminal law and the impact decisions they make today can have on their entire life. Recently, I was honored to be asked to join the staff of the Trial Lawyers College.

Why do you want this position?

I am running for judge of the 339th Criminal Judicial Court to effectuate justice and to work tirelessly to reform the Harris County criminal justice judicial system in a manner to ensures "justice matters" for all. For the past 15 years, I have been an active participant in a broken system. I am tired of watching the injustice and complaining and am determined to do all I can to fix our system to the benefit of victims and our communities. My vast array of experience working as a prosecutor, criminal defense attorney and public defender has given me a unique ability to see our problems from all sides and be able to implement solutions that will work.

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

Experience is the primary thing that sets me apart from my opponent. I have dedicated my entire career to criminal justice and criminal justice reform. For the last 15 years, I have practiced criminal law in Harris County. I currently serve as a public defender and have served as a private practice criminal defense lawyer and as a prosecutor in Harris County. I have handled thousands of cases and tried more than 50 cases, from low level misdemeanors to murders. My opponent does not practice criminal law, and according to Harris County records, she has never tried a felony case. Experience matters. The people in Harris County deserve a judge with experience in the area they are seeking to work. In a felony court, people's safety, lives and freedom are on the line every single day and they deserve to have a judge who is knowledgeable and experienced on laws pertaining to their cases. I am running to make a difference and to be the change I seek. If elected, I will not only bring my experience, I will bring the many lessons I learned from my experience to the bench.

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

One of the first priorities would be to reduce the trial docket by trying more cases. I understand trial space is limited as a result of post Harvey accommodations; consequently, we must make the most with the time we are given in the courtroom. Trying cases in both locations and making sure there is enough on the trial docket will help to reduce the size of the docket and increase efficiency. Bringing docket numbers down will allow parties to spend more time actively engaging in resolving other cases. Additionally, during trial there will be specific time set up to make sure we are allocating time to resolve cases while a trial is pending without having attorneys and clients sit around the courthouse all day waiting for a break to resolve a case.

Where can voters go for more information about you?

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Candance White

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

Candance White Candance White. Courtesy photo

I am a graduate of Texas A&M University. I have my juris doctorate from the University of Texas School of Law, and my masters in law from the University of Houston Law Center. I have served as a municipal court judge for the city of Houston, inter-regional managing attorney for the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services handling adult and child abuse and neglect matters across three regions in Texas and as the child welfare director for Harris County. I have a broad array of legal experience including criminal defense, juvenile, family law, elder abuse, guardianship, and environmental law. I received the "Professionalism Award" during my service as inter-regional managing attorney. The "You Make it Happen Award" while serving as the adult protective services attorney, and a citizen commendation letter during my service as a municipal court judge. As a municipal court judge I handled misdemeanor level criminal cases and managed very large dockets on nights and weekends. I am a proud member of the American Leadership Forum criminal justice class five.

Why do you want this position?

I am a servant leader who cares about people and justice. I know I can make a positive difference. I see a need in our criminal justice system for highly qualified, hard-working, honest leaders with diverse backgrounds and experiences who realize the need for system change and who understand how large system change works. I want to work to impact change in our criminal justice system and I have the skills to do it. I care about people, justice, integrity, and equality. I believe every person has a right to qualified legal representation and a fair trial. Financial resources should not dictate justice. There must be a balance that ensures fair treatment and public safety. I am a strong decision maker, accustomed to conflict and complex decisions requiring extensive analysis and critical thinking. I will bring all of this to the bench. I want to serve the community and leave a legacy of working from a lens that ensures equitable treatment, fair representation, and respect shown for all people. I want to ensure cases are resolved as expediently as possible. I will also work to educate the community on the judicial system and criminal justice–how these systems work and especially the impact on young adults.

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

I believe my experience, exposure, and education distinguish me from my opponent. I have a Masters of Law (LLM) degree from the University of Houston Law Center. I am a first-generation college graduate from a single-parent household. I served for four years as a Houston municipal court judge, where I managed large criminal court dockets. I have had the unique opportunity to be a servant leader, where I have seen firsthand the most egregious and heinous acts of human beings against our society's innocent and most vulnerable. My experience includes handling hundreds of bench trials, plea agreements, as well as developing policy for over 2,000 staff. I have partnered with local and state community leaders to develop human trafficking protocols in Harris County. I know the gaps in our criminal justice system, and I will be a proponent of restorative justice in order to make our criminal justice system more fair and consistent.

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

I will work to ensure that cases are heard timely. I will evaluate cases being reset to ensure cases are not unintentionally prolonged for extended periods of time. I believe both parties are entitled to resolution as quickly as possible. Peoples' lives are in limbo while these cases remain open with no resolution or verdict. If elected, I will set a clear expectation with those who work in my court of my expectation that all parties are adequately prepared, timely, respectful, and professional. Having managed large dockets I understand how important it is to clearly explain expectations, start timely and be willing to work over if needed.

Where can voters go for more information about you?