Surendran K. Pattel at a glance
- Current role
- District Judge, Fort Bend County 240th District Court (general jurisdiction, mixed civil and criminal docket)
- Court
- Texas 240th District Court
- Jurisdiction
- Texas · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Surendran K. Pattel
District Judge, Fort Bend County 240th District Court (general jurisdiction, mixed civil and criminal docket) · Texas 240th District Court
Available research
Courtroom rules and guidance
Civil Trial Exhibits And Video Depositions
The 240th District Court requires motions in limine, exhibit lists, actual exhibits, witness lists, and deposition excerpts to be exchanged 14 days before trial. Counsel using blowups must mark an 8-by-11 exhibit, and video deposition excerpts must be prepared for rapid editing of excluded portions.
The Court requires the parties to exchange motions in limine, exhibit lists, actual exhibits, party/attorney lists, witness lists, and deposition excerpts 14 days before the trial date.240th District Court Local Rules and Court Procedures ↗
Recording And Broadcasting
Fort Bend County District Courts prohibit photographs, video or audio recording, live streaming, and broadcasting without express permission from the court. A person seeking coverage must file a request with the clerk.
No photographs, video recordings, audio recordings, live streaming, tweeting, or broadcasting of any nature is allowed of any proceeding in a District Court without express permission from the Court.Local Rules of the District Courts of Fort Bend County, Texas ↗
Civil Remote Appearances
In civil district and county court proceedings, the court may permit or require electronic participation after appropriate notice; compelled electronic participation for oral-testimony proceedings requires good cause or party agreement, and a jury trial requires party agreement.
Upon appropriate notice by a party or the court, a court may allow or require a participant to appear at a court proceeding by videoconference, teleconference, or other available electronic means, except as otherwise provided in (2).Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings ↗
Civil Recording And Broadcasting
Civil district and county trial courts may permit courtroom recording or broadcasting only under Supreme Court guidelines, with the required party and witness consent, or for ceremonial proceedings.
A trial court may permit broadcasting, televising, recording, or photographing of proceedings in the courtroom only in the following circumstances:Texas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings ↗
Sources
Fort Bend County 240th District Court official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/government/departments/district-courts/240th-district-courtTexas Rule of Civil Procedure 21d, Appearances at Court Proceedings
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdfTexas Rule of Civil Procedure 18c, Recording and Broadcasting of Court Proceedings
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 26, 2026
https://www.txcourts.gov/media/1462948/texas-rules-of-civil-procedure-july-1-2026.pdfLocal Rules of the District Courts of Fort Bend County, Texas
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://fbctxdocs.fortbendcountytx.gov/District-Court-268/Local%20Rules%20for%20District%20Courts.pdf240th District Court Local Rules and Court Procedures
Judge research source · PDF · checked July 28, 2026
https://www.fortbendcountytx.gov/sites/default/files/document-central/document-central/district-court-240th-documents/240th-Local-Rules-and-Court-Procedures_1.pdf