A 22-year judge in the District was selected Thursday as the head of the DC Court of Appeals.

Judge Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, 55, was named chief of the DC Court of Appeals after the current chief, Eric T. Washington, announced he would not seek a fourth consecutive term as head of the nine-member court.

The Court of Appeals is one of the most powerful courts in the District, overseeing DC Superior Court cases that have been under appeal. The court also oversees the DC Bar, which incudes the admission of attorneys to the bar, as well as the discipline of its members.