Draft:John Howland (judge)

John Howland (YEAR – YEAR) was a justice of the first Colonial Rhode Island Supreme Court from May 1747 to May 1749.

"In February, 1746-47, the General Assembly, in session at Providence, distinguished itself by amending the law as to the constitution of the Superior Court from a magisterial to a purely judicial character. In lieu of the Governor or Deputy and ten Assistants, there were to be five judges—a chief and four associates, chosen by the General Assembly annually and commissioned by the Governor to hold court for two sessions a year in each county. ... At the election that followed in May, Gideon Cornell was chosen Chief Justice, and Stephen Hopkins, Joshua Babcock, Josiah Arnold and John Howland, assistants, holding office till May, 1749."