Canberra has welcomed a new judge on board, swearing in Chrissa Loukas-Karlsson on Monday at a ceremonial sitting in the ACT Supreme Court.

Addressing those gathered, the Greek Australian acknowledged the females judges before her as “magnificent role models”, and the lawyers who supported her throughout her career to get to this point.

Proud to be joining a court with such an “impressive reputation”, she said that she looks forward to her role in the ACT, “this most educated, progressive and civilised of places”, where she has appeared as counsel in the High Court of Australia.

Born to first generation Greek immigrants, Loukas-Karlsson pursued her studies in Queensland and in NSW, and started her career with the Aboriginal Legal Service and the Legal Aid Commission.

According to her peers, she has been showing promise since day one. In 1990, her first year as a barrister, she took part in a debate at the University and Schools Club against Malcolm Turnbull, and won.

“In this early test of your advocacy skills you demonstrated the talents which have served you well throughout your career,” said ACT Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay, and went on to praise her reputation for professionalism, patience, courtesy and integrity.

Meanwhile President of the ACT Bar Association, Ken Archer had only high praise for Justice Loukas-Karlsson, whose career he said has been characterised by a commitment to championing the role of women in law, social justice, and “undying faith in the idea of equality before the law and preparedness to take on the hardest cases and argue the cause of the most vulnerable”.

Present at the ceremony were her mother and father, her son, and husband Robert with whom she said she shared the honour of becoming a judge.

To close her address, Justice Loukas-Karlsson drew from the classical Greek philosopher Socrates.

“Socrates stated some two-and-a-half thousand years ago that the essential qualities of a judge are to listen courteously, answer wisely, consider soberly and decide impartially,” she said.

“That statement stands true today, and therefore the time for me to speak is over, and it is now time for me to listen.”