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→Three judgeships
==Three judgeships==
==Three judgeships==
In 1984, Drew's father stepped down from a second nonconsecutive term as the Minden municipal court judge, a position created in 1928 and originally held by the senior Drew's uncle. Drew, Jr., was elected to a six-year term to succeed his father. He defeated a Minden friend and legal colleague, Democrat Paul Edward Kitchens (born 1945), for the position. Kitchens' brother, [[Graydon K. Kitchens, Jr.]], had held the city judge's post for two years prior to the tenure of R. Harmon Drew, Sr. Graydon K. Kitchens Sr., a law partner of Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], a Minden native, was the interim DA from 1941 to 1942.<ref>List of District Attorneys of Webster Parish, ''Webster Parish Centennial Booklet, 1971.''</ref>
In 1984, Drew's father stepped down from a second nonconsecutive term as the Minden municipal court judge, a position created in 1928 and originally held by the senior Drew's uncle. Drew, Jr., was elected to a six-year term to succeed his father. He defeated a Minden friend and legal colleague, Democrat Paul Edward Kitchens (born 1945), for the position. Kitchens' brother, [[Graydon K. Kitchens, Jr.]], had held the city judge's post for two years prior to the tenure of R. Harmon Drew, Sr. Graydon K. Kitchens Sr., a law partner of Governor [[Robert F. Kennon]], a Minden native, was the interim DA from 1941 to 1942.<ref>List of District Attorneys of Webster Parish, ''Webster Parish Centennial Booklet, 1971.''</ref>
Harmon Drew, Sr., who had preceded his son on the city court, returned for an interim appointment to the position after Drew, Jr., stepped down in 1988. Drew, Sr. was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to fill the city court position pending the election of Democrat John Cecil Campbell over the Minden attorney Randy D. Elkins.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 2, 1988, p. 1.</ref>
Harmon Drew, Sr., who had preceded his son on the city court, returned for an interim appointment to the position after Drew, Jr., stepped down in 1988. Drew, Sr. was selected by the Louisiana Supreme Court to fill the city court position pending the election of Democrat John Cecil Campbell over the Minden attorney Randy D. Elkins.<ref>''Minden Press-Herald,'' October 2, 1988, p. 1.</ref>
Drew, Jr., left the city bench when he was elected in 1988 as the Minden judge of the 26th Judicial District Court. Starting in 1989, the 26th District increased in judgeships from four to five.<ref>"5th judge approved for 26th District", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 21, 1989, p. 1.</ref> There are currently six 26th Judicial District judges. Drew succeeded the retiring 26th District Judge [[Cecil C. Lowe]] of Minden, who had run against Drew's father for district attorney in 1952, and both had lost to Louis H. Padgett, Jr. (1913–1980). Drew assumed office on March 20, 1988, his seating having been delayed by litigation over the configuration of the state's district court system.<ref>"Racial litigation expected to delay seating of judge," ''Minden Press-Herald, '' January 22, 1988, p. 1.</ref> His father swore Drew into the district judgeship.<ref>"Judge Drew taking oath, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 20, 1988, p. 1.</ref>
Drew, Jr., left the city bench when he was elected in 1988 as the Minden judge of the 26th Judicial District Court. Starting in 1989, the 26th District increased in judgeships from four to five.<ref>"5th judge approved for 26th District", ''Minden Press-Herald,'' June 21, 1989, p. 1.</ref> There are currently six 26th Judicial District judges. Drew succeeded the retiring 26th District Judge [[Cecil C. Lowe]] of Minden, who had run against Drew's father for district attorney in 1952, and both had lost to Louis H. Padgett, Jr. (1913–1980). Drew assumed office on March 20, 1988, his seating having been delayed by litigation over the configuration of the state's district court system.<ref>"Racial litigation expected to delay seating of judge," ''Minden Press-Herald, '' January 22, 1988, p. 1.</ref> His father swore Drew into the district judgeship.<ref>"Judge Drew taking oath, ''Minden Press-Herald,'' March 20, 1988, p. 1.</ref>
Drew was subsequently reelected to the 26th District Court without opposition in 1990 and in 1996.
Drew was subsequently reelected to the 26th District Court without opposition in 1990 and in 1996. In 1998, while still on the district court, Drew was elected without opposition to his current circuit judgeship. In 2008, he was unopposed for reelection to a second ten-year term on the court. Like is grandfather Harmon Caldwell Drew, he holds the highest judgeship ever obtained by election for a Webster Parish attorney because no lawyer from the parish has yet to be elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the highest tribunal in the state. He was again unopposed for his third ten-year-term in 2018. The appeal court handles cases from twenty northern Louisiana parishes; the members sit in three-judge panels, much as their national court counterparts.
In 1998, while still on the district court, Drew was elected without opposition to his current circuit judgeship. In 2008, he was unopposed for reelection to a second ten-year term on the court. Like is grandfather Harmon Caldwell Drew, he holds the highest judgeship ever obtained by election for a Webster Parish attorney because no lawyer from the parish has yet to be elected to the Louisiana Supreme Court, the highest tribunal in the state. He was again unopposed for his third ten-year-term in 2018.
The appeal court handles cases from twenty northern Louisiana parishes; the members sit in three-judge panels, much as their national court counterparts.
Drew's affiliations include the American, Louisiana, and Shreveport bar associations. He is a speaker on criminal law, ethics, and professionalism. He co-founded and is a former owner of Nuts & Bolts Fun judicial seminars.
Drew's affiliations include the American, Louisiana, and Shreveport bar associations. He is a speaker on criminal law, ethics, and professionalism. He co-founded and is a former owner of Nuts & Bolts Fun judicial seminars.