His seat was contested in the Buckshot War, and he was compelled to step down in favor of his Whig opponent, Nathaniel Brooke, in early 1839.

[1][2] Governor David R. Porter, a Democrat, promptly named Bell as president judge of the 15th district court covering Chester and Delaware counties.

Bell served in this office from May 16, 1839 through November 18, 1846, when Governor Francis R. Shunk appointed him to the bench of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, replacing his late father-in-law, Isaac Darlington.

Governor James Pollock appointed him to serve as president judge of the 22nd judicial district covering Wayne, Pike, Carbon, and Monroe counties from March to December 1855.

Bell's remains were interred at Oaklands Cemetery in West Goshen Township, Pennsylvania, where his youngest son, Thomas S. Jr., would be buried alongside him a year later.