The inquiry into David Harold Eastman's murder conviction will start on time, despite recently switching bosses.
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Acting Justice Brian Martin took his spot at the head of the inquiry for the first time on Monday since replacing the previous chief, acting Justice Kevin Duggan.
He told the court the inquiry would start on November 5 and sit for five weeks until December 12.
The inquiry would then reconvene on January 20 to consider fresh ballistic evidence.
The judge confirmed reports he would go on holiday before the November start date.
Acting Justice Martin said the trip had been planned for months and the ACT government had been aware of the commitment upon his appointment.
''[It will] not delay the start of the hearings or progress of the investigation,'' he said.
Acting Justice Martin took the helm after acting Justice Duggan stood down from the inquiry at a special hearing late last month.
Eastman has always maintained his innocence to the 1989 assassination of Australian Federal Police assistant commissioner Colin Winchester. Mr Winchester was shot dead while sitting in his car in the driveway of a Deakin home.
In 1995 a jury found Eastman guilty of the killing and he was sentenced to life.
The present wide-ranging inquiry was ordered in August last year after the emergence of a witness - who claimed he borrowed Eastman's car to go rabbit-shooting and put his .22 rifle in the boot - raised questions about Eastman's conviction.
The disclosure could explain why gunshot residue was found in Eastman's car. The probe's task has been asked to investigate the 1995 conviction on 19 grounds, including fitness to plead, ballistic evidence, and the possible role of Italian organised crime in the murder.
Justice Duggan said documents, subpoenaed by the inquiry, relating to inquiries into the alleged involvement of an Italian crime group included the name of a person he had previously acted for as counsel on three occasions.
''Accordingly, I disqualify myself from further involvement in the inquiry,'' he said.
Acting Justice Martin told Monday's hearing he had read the material and did not recognise any of the names mentioned.
The judge said he was confident there were no conflicts of interest that could threaten the probe.
