N.Y. Jud. Law § 168

* § 168. Power of supreme court justices in Kings, Queens, Richmond,\nNassau and Suffolk counties to appoint court officers. The justices of\nthe supreme court for the second judicial district residing in Kings\ncounty, or a majority of them; the justice or justices of the supreme\ncourt residing in Richmond county, or a majority of them; the justices\nof the supreme court for the eleventh judicial district residing in\nQueens county, or a majority of them; the justice or justices of the\nsupreme court residing in Nassau county, or a majority of them; the\njustice or justices of the supreme court residing in Suffolk county, or\na majority of them, may appoint, and at pleasure remove all clerks,\nattendants, messengers, and court officers in the supreme court in said\ncounties, and fix their compensation except where such compensation is\nfixed by law. In the event of there being no resident justice in the\ncounty of Richmond, the power vested in and exercised by the resident\njustice or justices of Richmond county shall then be vested in the\njustices or a majority of them residing in Kings county during such\nperiod.\n * NB There are 2 § 168's\n