The highly-experienced and well-respected NSW District Court judge Helen Murrell was announced as the new Chief Justice by Attorney-General Simon Corbell in September, and was sworn in at a ceremony in Canberra on Monday morning.

Chief Justice Murrell started her legal career in 1977, working briefly as a graduate lawyer with the then Commonwealth Crown Solicitor's Office, and then with the Legal Aid Commission of NSW.

In a speech to a packed courtroom on Monday, she described that period as one of the happiest periods of her working life.

"Like many who entered the law in the 70s, I was motivated by a desire to make a difference, particularly to the disadvantaged," Chief Justice Murrell said.

"I saw the law as a vehicle for achieving equality and social justice," she said.

Now, after more than 30 years experience in law, she has become the first woman to hold the position of Chief Justice in the ACT.

Chief Justice Murrell said she would make it a priority to continue to reduce the backlog and delay that has plagued the Supreme Court in recent years.

"Under the stewardship of my predecessor, the Honourable Terence Higgins, the court made significant progress in addressing those problems," Chief Justice Murrell said.

"Our priority is to build on that progress, to streamline processes and cut delays," she said.

"And I am confident that the combined energy and goodwill of the court and the profession will yield positive changes within a relatively short period."

The ceremony was attended by her family, High Court Chief Justice Robert French, Chief Minister Katy Gallagher, and Attorney-General Simon Corbell.

Chief Justice Murrell joins the ACT from the NSW District Court, where she was appointed a judge in 1996.

She has previously practiced criminal law, administrative law, environmental law, common law and equity, and spent 15 "wonderful but arduous years" at the Sydney bar.

During her time in NSW, she was instrumental in setting up and presiding over the state's innovative Drug Court.

She said that court helped her better understand addiction, mental illness, and human behaviour more generally.

Both the ACT Bar Association president Greg Stretton, SC, and ACT Law Society president Martin Hockridge spoke at the ceremony, praising the new Chief Justice and welcoming her to the territory.

Mr Stretton said her love of surfing - just one of her many hobbies - might not be lost in the ACT, despite what she might think.

"Because as we all know Jervis Bay is part of the ACT, so perhaps the court may convene there," he said.

Mr Corbell welcomed the new Chief Justice's commitment to achieving efficiency in the Supreme Court.

He said she would provide strong leadership to the court.

"I've got no doubt that her honour wishes to take further steps to improve the processes of the court to reduce delay, to reduce unnecessary procedure, which can only contribute to delay," Mr Corbell said.

"She's certainly made that clear from day one today, I welcome those comments and the government will certainly work closely with her and with the court to make every reasonable improvement in the court's overall processes."