He was educated at Cazenovia Seminary and then studied law at Syracuse, New York.

In May 1870, he was elected one of the first judges of the re-organized New York Court of Appeals.

He was appointed Chief Judge by Governor Alonzo B. Cornell after the resignation of Charles J. Folger in 1881, and remained on the post until the end of 1882.

At the State election in November 1882, Andrews ran to succeed himself for a full 14-year term as Chief Judge but was defeated by Democrat William C. Ruger.

Andrews resumed his post as an associate judge and was re-elected unopposed to another 14-year term in November 1884.