(a) Upon being notified of eligibility under § 40-5-301, the legislative body of an eligible county may, by ordinance, create the position of criminal magistrate within the county.
(b) Following enactment of such an ordinance, but no sooner than January 1, 2027, the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction may appoint the criminal magistrate, who shall serve at the pleasure of the majority of the judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction. As used this part, “judges of the county with criminal jurisdiction” does not include general sessions judges.