There shall be no jury trials in the magistrate court. Any person charged with one or more misdemeanor violations of Code Section 16-9-20 may, at any time before trial, demand that the case be removed to the state court of the county or to the superior court of the county if there is no state court. Such demand shall be written. Upon such written demand the court shall grant the demand. Failure to so demand removal of the case shall constitute a waiver of any right to trial by jury which the defendant may otherwise have had and of any other right which could have been secured by such a demand.
(Code 1981, §15-10-201, enacted by Ga. L. 1987, p. 1032, § 2; Ga. L. 1988, p. 13, § 15.)