Queensland Supreme Court judge Helen Bowskill has been appointed as the new chief justice.
The senior judge administrator will take over the state's top legal job from Justice Catherine Holmes, who is retiring.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Justice Bowskill, who has been a Supreme and District court judge, is the right person to lead the court.
She also paid tribue to Justice Holmes, who was Queensland's first female chief justice.
"The baton that passes to Judge Bowskill has been wielded most admirably by her predecessor," she told parliament on Thursday.
"Chief Justice Catherine Holmes is widely acknowledged as one of the finest legal minds our state has produced.
"Mr Speaker, one day it will go unremarked that both Justices Holmes and Bowskill are women.
"Sadly we are not quite there, but we are close.
"It is a source of pride to me that all three branches of public administration in this state are led by women."
Justice Bowskill will take over as chief justice on March 19.
