2006 New York Code - Judicial office, qualifications and restrictions.

 
    §  20.  a.  No  person,  other  than  one who holds such office at the
  effective date of this article, may assume the office of  judge  of  the
  court of appeals, justice of the supreme court, or judge of the court of
  claims  unless he or she has been admitted to practice law in this state
  at least ten years. No person, other than one who holds such  office  at
  the  effective  date  of this article, may assume the office of judge of
  the county court, surrogate's court, family court, a court for the  city
  of  New  York  established  pursuant to section fifteen of this article,
  district court or city court outside the city of New York unless  he  or
  she  has been admitted to practice law in this state at least five years
  or such greater number of years as the legislature may determine.
    b. A judge of the court of appeals,  justice  of  the  supreme  court,
  judge  of  the  court  of  claims, judge of a county court, judge of the
  surrogate's court, judge of the family court or judge of a court for the
  city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this article
  who is elected or appointed after the effective date of this article may
  not:
    (1) hold any other public office or trust except an office in relation
  to  the  administration  of  the  courts,  member  of  a  constitutional
  convention  or member of the armed forces of the United States or of the
  state of New York in which latter event the legislature may  enact  such
  legislation  as it deems appropriate to provide for a temporary judge or
  justice to serve during the period of  the  absence  of  such  judge  or
  justice in the armed forces;
    (2)  be  eligible  to  be a candidate for any public office other than
  judicial office or member of a constitutional convention, unless  he  or
  she  resigns  from judicial office; in the event a judge or justice does
  not so resign from judicial office within ten  days  after  his  or  her
  acceptance  of  the nomination of such other office, his or her judicial
  office shall become vacant and the vacancy shall be filled in the manner
  provided in this article;
    (3) hold any office or assume the duties or exercise the powers of any
  office of any political organization or be a member of any governing  or
  executive agency thereof;
    (4)  engage  in  the practice of law, act as an arbitrator, referee or
  compensated mediator in any action or proceeding or matter or engage  in
  the  conduct  of  any other profession or business which interferes with
  the performance of his or her judicial duties.
    Judges and justices of the courts specified in this subdivision  shall
  also  be  subject  to such rules of conduct as may be promulgated by the
  chief administrator of the courts with the  approval  of  the  court  of
  appeals.
    c.  Qualifications  for  and restrictions upon the judges of district,
  town, village or city courts outside the city of New  York,  other  than
  such   qualifications   and   restrictions  specifically  set  forth  in
  subdivision a of this section, shall be prescribed by  the  legislature,
  provided,  however,  that  the  legislature  shall  require  a course of
  training and education to be completed by justices of town  and  village
  courts  selected  after  the effective date of this article who have not
  been admitted to practice law in this state. Judges of such courts shall
  also be subject to such rules of conduct not inconsistent with  laws  as
  may  be  promulgated  by  the chief administrator of the courts with the
  approval of the court of appeals.