Initial election

(A) The General Assembly shall elect a number of family court judges from each judicial circuit as follows: First Circuit Four Judges Second Circuit Two Judges Third Circuit Three Judges Fourth Circuit Three Judges Fifth Circuit Six Judges Sixth Circuit Two Judges Seventh Circuit Four Judges Eighth Circuit Three Judges Ninth Circuit Seven Judges Tenth Circuit Four Judges Eleventh Circuit Four Judges Twelfth Circuit Four Judges Thirteenth Circuit Six Judges Fourteenth Circuit Four Judges Fifteenth Circuit Three Judges Sixteenth Circuit Three Judges (B) In the following judicial circuits at least one family court judge must be a resident of each county in the circuit: fifth, seventh, tenth, twelfth, thirteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth. In those judicial circuits made up of three or more counties, at least one family court judge must be a resident of one of the counties which does not have the largest population in the circuit. In the ninth circuit, both counties in the circuit must have at least two resident family court judges. (C) No county in the sixth circuit shall have more than one resident family court judge. (D) In addition to the judges authorized by this section, there must be four additional family court judges elected by the General Assembly from the State at large for terms of office of six years. These additional judges must be elected without regard to county or circuit of residence. Each office of the at-large judges is a separate office and is assigned numerical designations of Seat No. 1 through Seat No. 4, respectively.