N.Y. RPP Law § 377

§ 377. Official examiners of title. The registrar in any county is\nauthorized to appoint one or more official examiners of title who shall\nbe qualified in accordance with the provisions of law and such rules as\nmay be adopted by the court of appeals. The court of appeals shall\nprescribe such rules as it deems expedient with respect to ascertaining\nthe fitness and qualifications of individuals for appointment as\nofficial examiners of title. Such rules may provide that the length of\ntime during which candidates have practiced law and the experience they\nhave had in the examination of titles to real property shall be taken\ninto consideration in determining their qualifications. Every official\nexaminer of title must be an attorney and counselor-at-law of this\nstate. Subject to rules hereafter adopted by the court of appeals,\nattorneys and counselors-at-law heretofore duly licensed as official\nexaminers of title shall be eligible for appointment as official\nexaminers of title. In case the registrar shall fail to appoint an\nofficial examiner of title in any county, the justice of the supreme\ncourt to which petition is made to register any land in such county or\nto which petition is made to withdraw from registration under the\nprovisions of section four hundred and four-a of this chapter, may\nappoint a competent attorney to act as such official examiner of title\nupon that petition. Any official examiner of title shall have the power\nto administer any oath or affidavit, and to hold hearings and\ninvestigations necessary to determine questions of fact arising in the\ncourse of his examination of any title, may summon and subpoena\nwitnesses and examine them under oath with regard thereto, and may at\nany time apply to the supreme court for directions, and receive its\nassistance, in regard to any investigations conducted by him. The\nappellate division of the supreme court shall have the jurisdiction to\ncontrol and regulate the conduct and work of official examiners of title\nand may admonish, discipline, suspend or remove from office or position\nany official examiner of title, because of any dishonesty, incompetency,\nneglect of duty or any other improper conduct or omission, either on its\nown motion, or on the suggestion or recommendation of the justice of the\nsupreme court having general supervision and control of the business\ncoming under this law in the county in which such official examiner of\ntitle is appointed; and it shall be the duty of said appellate division\nto co-operate with such justice in endeavoring to retain the highest\npossible standard of ability, efficiency and honest service for all\nofficial examiners of title acting under and pursuant to this law. No\nperson who is the attorney or counsel or otherwise interested in a\nproceeding to register title to real property shall act as official\nexaminer of title in such proceeding.\n