It seems like an arcane process to me TBH.
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In most cases you have to become a licensed attorney. That requires law school and passing the bar exam. In theory as soon as you are licensed you could become a judge if you are elected. In reality you need several years of experience learning the law and making friends at the court house. Then you have to make political connections with the local political party for financial support. Voter turnout is often low for judicial elections so you need the local attorneys, judges and court house employees on your side. You will have some other small hoops to jump through like residency requirements.
Having said all that local laws can vary so it very likely could be different from county to county.
Federal judges are appointed, again you have to do all the lawyering and political connections stuff but you need much more influential friends.
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