N.Y. Jud. Law § 125

§ 125. Future official referees. Except as otherwise provided in this\narticle, no retired judge or justice of any court of this state shall\nhereafter be designated or act as official referee under the provisions\nof this article and the right heretofore existing of judges and justices\nto act as official referee pursuant to appointment or without\nappointment, except as otherwise provided in this article, is hereby\nabolished. The term of office of each official referee qualifying,\npursuant to the provisions of this article, after the date when this act\nbecomes effective shall, notwithstanding any other provision in this\narticle, expire automatically on the thirty-first day of December in the\nyear in which he will have attained the age of seventy-six years.\n