2012 New York Consolidated Laws
RPP - Real Property
Article 12 - (370 - 436) REGISTERING TITLE TO REAL PROPERTY
377 - Official examiners of title.

 
    §  377.  Official  examiners  of title. The registrar in any county is
  authorized to appoint one or more official examiners of title who  shall
  be  qualified in accordance with the provisions of law and such rules as
  may be adopted by the court of appeals.   The  court  of  appeals  shall
  prescribe  such rules as it deems expedient with respect to ascertaining
  the  fitness  and  qualifications  of  individuals  for  appointment  as
  official  examiners  of title. Such rules may provide that the length of
  time during which candidates have practiced law and the experience  they
  have  had  in  the examination of titles to real property shall be taken
  into consideration in determining their qualifications.  Every  official
  examiner  of  title  must  be  an  attorney and counselor-at-law of this
  state. Subject to rules hereafter  adopted  by  the  court  of  appeals,
  attorneys  and  counselors-at-law  heretofore  duly licensed as official
  examiners of  title  shall  be  eligible  for  appointment  as  official
  examiners  of  title.  In  case  the  registrar shall fail to appoint an
  official examiner of title in any county, the  justice  of  the  supreme
  court  to  which petition is made to register any land in such county or
  to which petition is  made  to  withdraw  from  registration  under  the
  provisions  of  section  four  hundred  and  four-a of this chapter, may
  appoint a competent attorney to act as such official examiner  of  title
  upon  that petition. Any official examiner of title shall have the power
  to  administer  any  oath  or  affidavit,  and  to  hold  hearings   and
  investigations  necessary  to determine questions of fact arising in the
  course of  his  examination  of  any  title,  may  summon  and  subpoena
  witnesses  and  examine  them under oath with regard thereto, and may at
  any time apply to the supreme court  for  directions,  and  receive  its
  assistance,  in  regard  to  any  investigations  conducted  by him. The
  appellate division of the supreme court shall have the  jurisdiction  to
  control and regulate the conduct and work of official examiners of title
  and  may admonish, discipline, suspend or remove from office or position
  any official examiner of title, because of any dishonesty, incompetency,
  neglect of duty or any other improper conduct or omission, either on its
  own motion, or on the suggestion or recommendation of the justice of the
  supreme court having general supervision and  control  of  the  business
  coming  under  this law in the county in which such official examiner of
  title is appointed; and it shall be the duty of said appellate  division
  to  co-operate  with  such  justice in endeavoring to retain the highest
  possible standard of ability, efficiency  and  honest  service  for  all
  official  examiners  of  title acting under and pursuant to this law. No
  person who is the attorney or  counsel  or  otherwise  interested  in  a
  proceeding  to  register  title  to  real property shall act as official
  examiner of title in such proceeding.