most of its judicial candidates. Legal aid The New York City Office of Civil Justice (OCJ) is responsible for implementing the city's right-to-counsel law. Housing judges There are approximately 50 Housing Court judges in the New York City Civil Court. In housing court, referees known as "housing judges" preside over most proceedings. Housing Court judges handle the housing parts of the New York City Civil Court, but are not judges provided for under Article VI of the New York Constitution. Housing judges are appointed by the Chief Administrative Judge to five-year terms from a list of qualified applicants screened and selected by the Housing Court Advisory Council. All 50 Housing Court judges serve in the Civil Court and cannot be assigned to other courts. Arbitrators With the consent of the parties, a volunteer arbitrator hears and decides disputes in small claims parts. Over 2800 arbitrators preside over 95% of the cases heard in small claims parts. They are appointed by the administrative judge of the court. Analysis and criticism Landlords in New York City may use a blacklist of persons who have appeared in housing court as a plaintiff or defendant. Known among housing advocates and lawyers as the tenant blacklist, it is compiled by tenant-screening database companies from housing court records. The appointment of housing judges has been criticized because the advisory council through which appointments are processed is composed largely of members of real estate interests and is not representative of the population. History In 1759, so-called justices' courts held by the mayor, recorder or an alderman could try cases in controversy of not more than £5 (). In 1781, they were replaced by assistant justices' courts held by associate justices appointed by the governor. In 1787, these were replaced by assistant justices with the power of justices of the peace in other counties. In 1797, these were replaced with justices of the peace for the city and county of New York and were constituted as one court. In 1807-1808 these were replaced by justices' courts and assistants justices' courts. In 1819, the justices' courts were renamed as the marine court of the city of New York, and in 1883 was renamed as the City Court of the City of New York. In 1848–1849 the assistants justices' courts were replaced with newly created justices' courts elected within six districts, and in 1852 these justices' courts were renamed as