§ 371. Petitions and proceedings to be in supreme court; title part of special term.

The petition for registration must be made to the supreme court; or to a justice thereof, sitting at a special term in any of the counties within the judicial department where the property is situated, and for that purpose said court shall be always open; and its orders, judgments and decrees in cases coming under this article may be made and entered as well in vacation as in term time. The proceedings upon such petitions shall have the effect of proceedings in rem against the land, and the final orders shall have the effect of final judgments in an action and shall operate directly on the land and vest and establish title thereto. An issue raised in such a case shall be tried at a special term of said court, in the county in which the petition is filed, by the court, except that an issue of fact may be tried by a jury, in the manner prescribed by the civil practice law and rules. When in any county the amount of business under this article makes it necessary or proper that such business should be attended to by one or more justices of said court assigned for that purpose, the appellate division of the judicial department in which such county is situated shall designate as many justices as may be deemed necessary, to constitute the "title part" of the special term in that court; and said appellate division shall provide by rules of practice for the conduct, in said title part, of the business coming under this article in such county. Said appellate division may assign one or more additional justices to said "title part" of the special term, or withdraw one or more justices therefrom, as the business coming under this article may require and the availability of the supreme court justices make proper. One of the justices so assigned to the "title part" of the special term in any county shall be designated by said appellate division to have general supervision and control of the business coming under this article in that county; and so far as is reasonably possible, such designation shall remain unchanged, and such justice shall be retained continuously in such term and part during his term of office unless in the opinion of the appellate division a change is required for the better enforcement or working of this law. One and the same justice may be assigned so as to have such general supervision and control in two or more counties of the judicial district for which he is elected. Other duties may be assigned by such appellate division to such justice, provided that they do not interfere with his work in supervising and controlling the business coming under this article. The justice assigned, as herein provided, to have general supervision and control of the business coming under the article in any county, shall also have general supervision and control of all the official examiners within such county and it shall be his duty to observe and supervise their work as such official examiners, to advise them when necessary and to make any suggestions or recommendations to the appellate division with respect to discipline, suspension or removal of any of them as to him may seem necessary or proper in the interests of the successful operation of this law.