In 1738 Cornell served as one of the Justices of the Peace for Portsmouth, and in 1741 was selected as one of the Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas and General Sessions of the Peace for Newport County.
In 1738 Cornell served as one of the Justices of the Peace for Portsmouth. A List of All Officers (Preston and Rounds, 1900: Providence, RI), pg.79 In 1741 Cornell was selected as one of the Justices of the Inferior Court of Common Pleas, and General Sessions of the Peace for Newport County.