Notwithstanding Section 12-18-40 or circuit judges on January 16, 1977, to come under provisions of Article 1 of chapter; filing of n” class=”unlinked-ref” datatype=”S” sessionyear=”2020″ statecd=”AL” title=”12″>12-18-55, any justice of the Supreme Court, any judge of the Court of Civil Appeals, any judge of the Court of Criminal Appeals, any circuit judge, or any district judge who has served for not less than 25 years on any one or more of such courts or has 25 years of creditable service in the Judicial Retirement System shall be eligible to retire under this chapter regardless of age.