A person shall be eligible for appointment to the office of magistrate, judge or justice of an inferior court of criminal jurisdiction in a city of the first class, who shall at the time of such appointment be of full age, a citizen of the United States, a resident of the city, an attorney and counselor-at-law admitted to practice for the period prescribed by special law, or in lieu thereof shall have been a member of the legislature of the state for at least twelve consecutive years, notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law inconsistent herewith.
New York Legal Code