Draughn v. Brown

This is an original mandamus action in which Joe Draughn and Murry Cohen, newly elected justices of the courts of appeals of the Fourteenth Supreme Judicial District and the First Supreme Judicial District, respectively, seek an order directing the chief justices of the two courts of appeals to refrain from drawing lots to determine the length of the terms of office they will serve. The writ is conditionally granted.

Draughn and Cohen were elected on November 2,1982. That election was the first time their positions were filled through the election process. Therefore, Draughn and two other…