Lorraine Walker will become the territory's new top magistrate.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
She is the first woman to hold the role in the ACT.
The announcement ends months of speculation following the departure of former Chief Magistrate John Burns to take his place on the ACT Supreme Court bench in August.
Justice Burns was almost the only name on anyone's lips in the lead-up to the announcement of his judicial appointment.
But the search for his replacement was perceived by legal circles as much more hotly contested.
Ms Walker took her position on the lower court's bench in April last year, after a career as a barrister.
ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell made the announcement this afternoon.
"I congratulate Magistrate Walker on her appointment and look forward to working with her into the future," Mr Corbell said.
Ms Walker had more than two decades of experience in the law before becoming a magistrate, including 10 years as a barrister.
She has been the partner of a law firm, a prosecutor, a solicitor and legal officer in the Royal Australian Air Force.
She also taught at the Australian National University, and took on a mentoring role with junior lawyers.
As a barrister the veteran advocate represented accused murderer Steven Hillier in the Court of Appeal and has acted for convicted cop killer David Harold Eastman.