N.Y. Jud. Law § 7-a

§ 7-a. Vacancies or changes in judges; power of judge out of office. A\ncivil or criminal action or special proceeding in a court of record is\nnot discontinued by a vacancy or change in the judges of the court or by\nthe re-election or re-appointment of a judge, but it must be continued,\nheard and determined by the court as constituted at the time of the\nhearing or determination. After a judge is out of office, he may settle\na transcript or statement for a record on appeal or make any return of\nproceedings had before him while he was in office, and may be compelled\nso to do by the court in which the action or special proceeding is\npending.\n