She steered clear of public spats surrounding Queensland's former chief justice and now she's been given his job to help repair the damage left in his wake.
Court of Appeal Justice Catherine Holmes was announced on Monday as the state's new chief justice, making her the first female to sit in the top judicial role.
The post had been vacant since Tim Carmody resigned in July after finally conceding his position was untenable following a string of controversies.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk acknowledged the "tough times" the Supreme Court had endured in recent months while announcing Justice Holmes' appointment.
"Justice Holmes is not only well qualified, she is also a leader who will put the functionality of our court system first and foremost," she said.
"I have no doubt the appointment of Justice Holmes will give the court the fresh start it needs. Today, that fresh start begins."
Attorney-General Yvette D'Ath had deliberately taken her time to fill the role in an effort to avoid the same controversies surrounding Mr Carmody after he was catapulted into the top job from his chief magistrate position - leapfrogging the judges he was to preside over - by the former Liberal National Party Government last year.
"Justice Holmes will bring stability, integrity and provide vital leadership," Ms D'Ath said.
"She is widely respected by the legal profession and the judiciary and brings tenacity, strength and a wealth of knowledge to this important role."
Ms D'Ath was asked whether Justice Holmes' "cleanskin" image and her reluctance to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Mr Carmody got her over the line.
Another frontrunner, Court of Appeal President Margaret McMurdo, had refused to sit with Mr Carmody on any court after a bungle during an appeal by Daniel Morcombe's convicted killer.
"This is a merit-based appointment," Ms D'Ath said.
"The question shouldn't be why someone else wasn't chosen; I think the question should be why shouldn't Justice Holmes be chosen, because she certainly is a stand-out candidate."
Shadow Attorney-General Ian Walker welcomed Justice Holmes to her role.
He said there had been an "exchange of correspondence" between government and opposition MPs about her appointment.
Justice Holmes, admitted as a barrister in 1984, has served as a Supreme Court judge since 2000 and was appointed to the Queensland Court of Appeal in 2006.
She headed the first Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry in the wake of the disaster in 2011.
Justice Holmes is set to address the media on Tuesday.
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