Section 2. Organization of court of claims

1. The court of claims is hereby
  continued.
    2.  Such  court shall consist of (a) twenty-seven judges, who shall be
  appointed by the governor, by and with the advice  and  consent  of  the
  senate;  (b) such number of additional judges not exceeding seventeen to
  and including December thirty-first, nineteen  hundred  eighty-two,  and
  not  exceeding  fifteen  on  and  after  January first, nineteen hundred
  eighty-three, as shall be appointed by the governor,  by  and  with  the
  advice  and  consent of the senate; (c) such number of additional judges
  not exceeding nineteen as shall be appointed by  the  governor,  by  and
  with   the   advice   and  consent  of  the  senate  prior  to  December
  thirty-first, nineteen hundred eighty-two; (d) such number of additional
  judges not exceeding thirty-two as shall be appointed by  the  governor,
  by  and  with  the  advice and consent of the senate; (e) such number of
  additional judges not exceeding twelve as  shall  be  appointed  by  the
  governor,  by  and  with  the advice and consent of the senate, provided
  that no more than five of such judges shall be appointed prior  to  July
  first, nineteen hundred ninety.
    3.  The  term  of  each judge hereafter appointed shall be nine years,
  provided, however, that the  existing  terms  of  present  judges  shall
  continue until the expiration thereof.
    4.  Whenever the term of office of a judge shall expire, or his office
  become vacant from any cause, his successor shall be appointed  for  the
  unexpired  term.  Notwithstanding  the provisions of section five of the
  public officers law, a judge of the court of claims shall hold over  and
  continue  to discharge the duties of his office, after the expiration of
  the term for which he shall have been  appointed,  until  his  successor
  shall  have  been  chosen and qualified but after the expiration of such
  term the office shall be deemed vacant for the purpose of  choosing  his
  successor.
    6.  By  an  order to be filed in the office of the secretary of state,
  the governor shall designate one of the judges as presiding  judge,  who
  shall  act  as such during his term, and thereafter upon the appointment
  of his successor, the governor shall designate  such  successor  or  any
  other  judge  of  the  court  as  presiding judge, who shall act as such
  during his term.
    7.  A  judge  of  the  court  of  claims  must  be  an  attorney   and
  counselor-at-law admitted to practice in the courts of this state, of at
  least ten years' experience in practice.
    8.  Whenever  in  any  other statute reference is made to the board of
  claims or any officer thereof, the same shall be deemed to refer to  and
  mean  the  court of claims or an officer thereof. A determination of the
  board of claims heretofore rendered shall have the same force and effect
  and be subjected to the same procedure as provided in  this  act  for  a
  judgment.