Section 21. Court proceedings; preferences

All actions and proceedings
  under this  chapter,  and  all  actions  and  proceedings  commenced  or
  prosecuted  by  order of the commission, and all actions and proceedings
  to which the commission or the people of the state of New  York  may  be
  parties,  and  in which any question arises under this chapter, or under
  the railroad law, or under or concerning any  order  or  action  of  the
  commission,  shall  be  preferred  over  all  other  civil causes except
  election causes in all courts of the state of  New  York  and  shall  be
  heard  and  determined in preference to all other civil business pending
  therein excepting election  causes,  irrespective  of  position  on  the
  calendar.  The  same preference shall be granted upon application in any
  action  or  proceeding  in  which  the  commission  may  be  allowed  to
  intervene.