Judge Ravi K. Sandill, a Democrat, has presided over Houston’s 127th District Court for the last 12 years. The Hispanic Bar Association of Houston last year named him its judge of the year. But come November, Sandill will fight to keep his seat against Republican attorney Nile Copeland, who describes himself as a “conservative, constitutionalist, Christian community builder.”

Texas Lawyer is publishing Q&A articles with judicial candidates running in contested races in November. Early voting runs from Oct. 13 to Oct. 30, which is longer than normal because Gov. Greg Abbott extended the period due to the COVID-19 pandemic.