(a) The chief judge of a District of Columbia court shall be designated by the President of the United States from among the judges of the court in regular active service, and shall serve for a term of four years or until a successor is designated. The chief judge shall be eligible for redesignation. The chief judge may relinquish that position, after giving notice to the President.
(b) If a chief judge is not redesignated, or relinquishes the office of chief judge, that person shall continue as an associate judge.