But it was his abiding sense of compassion, courtesy and fairness, as well as his fierce work ethic and tireless legal intellect, that his colleagues said would be his legacy as he retired after nearly a decade on the bench.

Justice Refshauge, a giant of the ACT legal profession and former director of public prosecutions, was farewelled following an illustrious legal career that spanned four decades at a packed ceremonial sitting on Thursday.

Chief Justice Helen Murrell said the crowd of 150 was the largest for any ceremony at the court and fitting for its "most-loved judge", who would be missed for his enormous contribution to the work and life of the court, and wider Canberra community.

In a frank and humble parting speech, Justice Refshauge said he'd had an "extremely fortunate life" but admitted his tenure as judge had been "challenging".

He said the Bar Association's formal complaint to the ACT government, claiming he was unfit to be a judge due to a backlog in judgements stemming from the marathon Davis Samuel fraud case, in 2012 was "unsurprising but personally devastating".

"It is hard to hear such judgement from one's peers."

He was grateful to be temporarily excused from his duties to finalise the mammoth 500-page judgement.

Justice Refshauge said delays in delivering judgements "plagued my term", but despite his failings in that respect he was confident he could not be accused of not working hard or not making a contribution.

Several outstanding decisions were "a matter of great personal regret" he vowed to deliver soon.

Justice Refshauge also took aim at critics' attacks on judges as too lenient as "fake news".

He said his sentencing approach had been informed by his Anglican faith, saying he refused to dehumanise people regardless of their crimes.

"It's too easy to discriminate, to treat people as less equal, to oppress them if they're dehumanised and identified as the other, the lesser."

"Now we use terms like Muslim, boat people, refugee, welfare cheat and paedophile to dehumanise them and justify treating them as less than human. I will not do that."

He spoke of his pride in his two children and thanked his wife Barbara - his "most solid support".

Chief Justice Murrell fondly recalled the judge's generosity, penchant for paper and handwritten judgements, as well as his work habits that meant he was often in his office at midnight and on Christmas Day.

She referred to comments he made at his swearing in ceremony about his intention to apply the law fairly to every person who appeared in his court.

"You have exceeded your ambition. You have discharged that heavy responsibility with intellectual rigour and true compassion.

"You have enhanced the judiciary, the profession and the broader Canberra community in many, many ways."

ACT Law Society president Sarah Avery said Justice Refshauge had generously given his time to young lawyers and students and was also a philanthropist, volunteer and arts patron.

"Most importantly, His Honour is a lover of humanity. He embodies courtesy. He is gracious, generous and truly values every person who enters his courtroom. No-one is above the law, and no-one is beneath courtesy and human dignity."

Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay noted his contribution to the ACT's legal theory, saying some of his most critical decisions would "undoubtedly" remain as precedents for many years to come.

His thoughts were echoed by ACT Bar Association president Ken Archer:

"You, perhaps more than any judge who has sat in this court, have been responsible for establishing a body of jurisprudence that has been cited throughout Australia.

"Appearing before you has been always a pleasure. A smile, rigorously fair, always able to call a spade a spade."

Director of Public Prosecutions Jon White said his predecessor had been "a particular champion" of law reform in cases of sexual and family violence offences.

"We have been able to build on that significant legacy," Mr White said.

"His Honour will be remembered for his unfailing courtesy on the bench, and his encouragement of young lawyers."

Justice Refshauge graduated from the Australian National University and began his legal career in 1976.

He practised extensively as a solicitor and barrister before he was appointed the territory's third director of public prosecutions in 1998.

After taking silk in 2000, he was sworn in as a Supreme Court justice in January 2008.

Justice David Mossop was elevated to the Supreme Court bench in February to replace Justice Refshauge.