Surendran K. Pattel

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- District judges manage Texas district courts, which are trial courts with general jurisdiction, and have exclusive authority over felony cases. A judge may be presiding over a civil, criminal, juvenile, or special court. They also share jurisdiction with Texas county courts.
- Texas has over 470 district courts, each presided over by a single judge. Some courts cover multiple counties, while others are assigned to single counties based on population size.
- District judges are elected through partisan elections for four-year terms. Candidates must be between 25 and 75 years old, have lived in the district for at least 2 years, and be licensed lawyers with at least 4 years' experience.
- The annual salary for district judges ranges from $175,000 to $245,500, depending on years of service.

Presides over a trial court with general jurisdiction. 

Criminal Justice

Texas

Legal Experience

Judicial Administration

Judicial Philosophy

Ethics & Conduct

Community Involvement

District Judge

Emileigh Crouch

Walter Ley

Surendran is from Payyannur, Kerala, India. He attended Payyannur College and Government Law College, Kozhikode. He has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Payyannur College, a bachelor of laws in law from Government Law College, Kozhikode, and a master’s degree in international law from the University of Houston Law Center. He lives with his wife and their two daughters in Houston, Texas.

Surendran K Pattel: From rolling beedis in Kerala to district judge in ...

Beedi Roller to hotel hand, humble Indian lawyer becomes district ...

Surendran Pattel: The US judge who once made cigarettes in India

Surendran is a District Judge. He works at the 240th District Court in Texas, where he has been since 2022. He previously worked as a trial lawyer handling civil and criminal cases, election law, family law, and labor law. In 2005, he moved to Delhi, India, and practiced appellate law before the Supreme Court of India.

Kerala Man Who Used To Roll 'Beedis' Is Now a US Judge: Who's ...

From a beedi roller in Kerala to a district judge in Texas—the roller ...

Surendran K. Pattel's campaign for Texas District Judge, District 240 is his first entry into politics.

Surendran Pattel - Ballotpedia

As a candidate, Surendran K. Pattel secured his nomination by defeating a sitting judge in the Democratic primary and won the race for the 240th Judicial District.

As of January 22, 2026, Surendran K. Pattel’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Promotes Indian-American culture in the Houston area and is a member of the Exchange Club of Sugar Land, which honors academic achievement and assists survivors of domestic abuse.