N.Y. Jud. Law § 251-a

§ 251-a. Confidential clerks to justices of supreme court not to be\nappointed referees, receivers or commissioners. No person holding the\noffice of confidential clerk or law secretary to a justice of the\nsupreme court shall hereafter be appointed by any court or judge in any\naction or proceeding instituted in the supreme court, a referee,\nreceiver or commissioner, except that in uncontested matrimonial\nactions, a confidential clerk or law secretary who is an attorney in\ngood standing admitted to practice in the state may be appointed by an\nadministrative judge to serve without fee as a referee for the purpose\nof hearing and reporting to the court.\n