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In 1926, Drew was elected judge of the 2nd Judicial District, soon renamed the 26th District, covering Bossier and Webster parishes.<ref>List of Judges of Webster Parish, ''Webster Parish Centennial Booklet, 1971.''</ref> Drew served three years on the lower court. He was elected in 1928 to the circuit court, on which he served for two six-year terms from 1930 to 1942. More than a year passed from his election to this court to his taking of the office.<ref>"Judge Harmon C. Drew Submits Unconditional Resignation to Governor Long,", ''Minden Signal-Tribune,'' September 11, 1929, p. 1.</ref>​

In 1926, Drew was elected judge of the 2nd Judicial District, soon renamed the 26th District, covering Bossier and Webster parishes.<ref>List of Judges of Webster Parish, ''Webster Parish Centennial Booklet, 1971.''</ref> Drew served three years on the lower court. He was elected in 1928 to the circuit court, on which he served for two six-year terms from 1930 to 1942. More than a year passed from his election to this court to his taking of the office.<ref>"Judge Harmon C. Drew Submits Unconditional Resignation to Governor Long,", ''Minden Signal-Tribune,'' September 11, 1929, p. 1.</ref>​

==Political squabbles==​

==Political squabbles==

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In 1933, Judge Drew, who served as the president of the Louisiana New Deal Organization, an association committed to promoting the policies of  President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], got into a heated exchange with [[U.S. Senator]] Huey Pierce Long, Jr., who had been less than fully committed to the Roosevelt agenda. In a speech in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], Long alleged that Drew had paid only $600 on an outstanding debt owed to the former Bank of Minden. The next night in Minden, accompanied by his bodyguards, Long spoke at Minden City Park. Judge Drew was there to challenge him directly. Instead, Long uttered mild remarks and did not attack the judge. After Long left the gathering, Drew told the crowd:​

In 1933, Judge Drew, who served as the president of the Louisiana New Deal Organization, an association committed to promoting the policies of  President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], got into a heated exchange with [[U.S. Senator]] Huey Pierce Long, Jr., who had been less than fully committed to the Roosevelt agenda. In a speech in [[Monroe, Louisiana|Monroe]], Long alleged that Drew had paid only $600 on an outstanding debt owed to the former Bank of Minden. The next night in Minden, accompanied by his bodyguards, Long spoke at Minden City Park. Judge Drew was there to challenge him directly. Instead, Long uttered mild remarks and did not attack the judge. After Long left the gathering, Drew told the crowd:​

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"I came here tonight to hear him [Long] repeat that lie in my presence, and he didn't have the nerve to do it. Louisiana must act to stop that man when he goes about the state attacking honest people. I for one do not intend to tolerate it any longer."<ref>"Long Fails to Make Attack Here: Silent on Charges against Judge Drew and New Deal Group," ''Minden Herald'', November 10, 1933, p. 1.</ref>​

"I came here tonight to hear him [Long] repeat that lie in my presence, and he didn't have the nerve to do it. Louisiana must act to stop that man when he goes about the state attacking honest people. I for one do not intend to tolerate it any longer."<ref>"Long Fails to Make Attack Here: Silent on Charges against Judge Drew and New Deal Group," ''Minden Herald'', November 10, 1933, p. 1.</ref>

 

Coincidentally, the day after the ''Minden Herald'' published the story of the Long-Drew squabble, John L. Fort (1906–1992) of Minden, the son of then Mayor [[Connell Fort]] and later the owner of a Minden news stand, shot to death city council member Abraham Brisco Nation (1886–1933) as a result of a political dispute between Nation and Mayor Fort.<ref>"Investigation of Saturday's Killing Held by Coroner's Jury," ''Minden Herald,'' November 17, 1933, p. 1.</ref> In 1937, Judge Drew was a pallbearer at the funeral of former Mayor Fort.<ref>"Connell Fort Dies Saturday Night at His Residence Here: Was Great Civic Worker and Builder of This City," ''Webster Signal-Tribune'', March 5, 1937, pp. 1, 6.</ref>​

Coincidentally, the day after the ''Minden Herald'' published the story of the Long-Drew squabble, John L. Fort (1906–1992) of Minden, the son of then Mayor [[Connell Fort]] and later the owner of a Minden news stand, shot to death city council member Abraham Brisco Nation (1886–1933) as a result of a political dispute between Nation and Mayor Fort.<ref>"Investigation of Saturday's Killing Held by Coroner's Jury," ''Minden Herald,'' November 17, 1933, p. 1.</ref> In 1937, Judge Drew was a pallbearer at the funeral of former Mayor Fort.<ref>"Connell Fort Dies Saturday Night at His Residence Here: Was Great Civic Worker and Builder of This City," ''Webster Signal-Tribune'', March 5, 1937, pp. 1, 6.</ref>​

 

In the 1940 judicial election, Robert Kennon, the district attorney and former [[mayor]] of Minden, handily unseated Drew, 19,934 votes (63.5 percent) to 11,439. (36.5 percent). Kennon won nine of the ten parishes in the district, having lost to Drew only in their native Webster Parish.<ref>"Kennon, Brooks Win Races: Kennon Defeats Drew in Court of Appeal Race; Overton Brooks Wins over Henry R. O'Neal in Congressional Race," ''Minden Herald,'' October 18, 1940, p. 1.</ref> In the preceding primary election, Kennon with 47 percent of the vote but no majority led Drew and a third candidate, Judge E. L. Walker of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], who was then eliminated for further consideration.<ref>"Kennon Will Meet Judge Drew; Overton Brooks Leads Race," ''Minden Herald,'' September 13, 1940, p. 1.</ref>​

In the 1940 judicial election, Robert Kennon, the district attorney and former [[mayor]] of Minden, handily unseated Drew, 19,934 votes (63.5 percent) to 11,439. (36.5 percent). Kennon won nine of the ten parishes in the district, having lost to Drew only in their native Webster Parish.<ref>"Kennon, Brooks Win Races: Kennon Defeats Drew in Court of Appeal Race; Overton Brooks Wins over Henry R. O'Neal in Congressional Race," ''Minden Herald,'' October 18, 1940, p. 1.</ref> In the preceding primary election, Kennon with 47 percent of the vote but no majority led Drew and a third candidate, Judge E. L. Walker of [[Ruston, Louisiana|Ruston]], who was then eliminated for further consideration.<ref>"Kennon Will Meet Judge Drew; Overton Brooks Leads Race," ''Minden Herald,'' September 13, 1940, p. 1.</ref>​

 

Because Kennon soon entered [[World War II]] service, he did not claim the judgeship until 1945. Therefore, Drew continued to serve as interim judge for nearly four years until Kennon claimed his seat. Drew also served temporarily by appointment on the Louisiana Supreme Court during the latter part of his circuit judgeship.<ref name=hcdrew/>​

Because Kennon soon entered [[World War II]] service, he did not claim the judgeship until 1945. Therefore, Drew continued to serve as interim judge for nearly four years until Kennon claimed his seat. Drew also served temporarily by appointment on the Louisiana Supreme Court during the latter part of his circuit judgeship.<ref name=hcdrew/>​

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==Memorial service==​

==Memorial service==

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H. C. Drew and most of his family members were [[Presbyterian]]s.<ref name=hcdrew/>​

H. C. Drew and most of his family members were [[Presbyterian]]s.<ref name=hcdrew/>​