The courts
chief judge
The administrative head of a federal district or circuit court. The role goes by seniority and age rules, not by appointment or election.
In full
A chief judge assigns cases, manages the court's business, and sits on the Judicial Conference, while carrying a normal caseload. The position generally goes to the most senior active judge under 65 who has not served as chief before, for a seven-year term. It confers no extra weight on the bench, only on how the court is run.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.