(a)(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, each judge of the state court shall be a resident of the geographic area in which he or she is selected to serve, shall have been a resident of the state for three years next preceding the beginning of his or her term of office, shall as of such date be at least 25 years of age, and shall have been admitted to practice law for seven years.

(2) If, at the expiration of the qualifying period for the general nonpartisan election or any special election, no candidate meeting the requirements of paragraph (1) of this subsection has qualified, then the county election superintendent shall reopen qualifying for a period of 15 days, and any person may qualify who: (A) will have been for three years next preceding the beginning of the term of office a resident of the superior court judicial circuit containing the geographic area in which the judge is to serve; and (B) meets all requirements, other than the residency requirement specified in paragraph (1) of this subsection, for eligibility for nomination and election to the office of state court judge.

(b) A full-time judge of the state court may not engage in the private practice of law. A part-time judge of the state court may engage in the private practice of law in other courts but may not practice in his own court or appear in any matter as to which that judge has exercised any jurisdiction.

(c) Judges of the state courts shall be subject to discipline, removal, and involuntary retirement pursuant to Article VI, Section VII, Paragraphs VI and VII of the Constitution of the State of Georgia.