Section 4. Judicial Offices

(a) On the effective date of this Constitution, Associate Judges and magistrates shall become Circuit Judges and Associate Judges, respectively, of their Circuit Courts. All laws and rules of court theretofore applicable to Associate Judges and magistrates shall remain in force and be applicable to the persons in their new offices until changed by the General Assembly or the Supreme Court, as the case may be.
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 11 of Article VI, magistrates in office on the effective date thereof are eligible to serve as Associate Judges.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 18 of Article VI, the Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Clerks of the Appellate Court Districts in office on the effective date of this Constitution shall continue in office until the expiration of their elective terms.
(d) Until otherwise provided by law and except to the extent that the authority is inconsistent with Section 8 of Article VII, the Circuit Courts shall continue to exercise the non-judicial functions vested by law as of December 31, 1963, in county courts or the judges thereof.