The ACT Supreme Court will today farewell Justice Richard Refshauge after nearly 10 years on the bench.

His retirement at the age of 70 marks the end of a long and sometimes controversial career in the law.

Though it is perhaps his compassion for which he is best known, by fans and critics alike.

He has often sent offenders off to rehabilitation, before their final sentence, with words like "now don't let me down".

One young robber even asked a corrections officer to say he had a drug problem, which would make him look good because he had heard Justice Refshauge liked to hear about "rehab things".

Unfortunately he got another judge.

Difficulties culminated in basketballer's death

But it was in an epic struggle in the case of former professional basketball player Jana Sladic that Justice Refshauge's commitment to using the law to help rather than punish came to the fore.

Ms Sladic had been a Canberra Capitals player, a fit healthy young woman, who became addicted to painkillers and later illegal drugs after a car accident which ended her career.

Charged over a series of robberies, and after time in jail on remand, Justice Refshauge shepherded Ms Sladic through rehabilitation over many years.

Finally released on a suspended sentence in February 2015, she walked free from court with a grin for the Canberra Times photographer.

Two weeks later the same paper reported her dead from a suspected drug overdose.

It was a low point.

It must be said the judge has never been shy of jailing those who do let him down, as a prolific robber sent to rehabilitation last month found out this week when he was sentenced to seven years.

But colleagues are keen to point out there is much more to the Justice Refshauge.

At times controversial, but always clear

Jon White, who took over from Justice Refshauge as Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), says the benefits of his work there are still being felt.

"He championed sexual assault law reform, a family violence intervention program and we've been able to build on those initiatives in my time as DPP," Mr White said.

Over his time on the bench, Justice Refshauge has delivered more than a thousand judgements, sometimes a little too slowly for some.

In 2012 the Bar Association made a formal complaint to the ACT Government, citing long delays in his judgements.

Justice Refshauge was given time off the bench to catch up.

But colleagues in the law like barrister James Lawton have said the quality of those judgements would be noticed long into the future.

"You could write a textbook from his judgements," Mr Lawton said.

Mr White agreed.

Associate Justice David Mossop will replace Justice Refshauge ( ACT Supreme Court )

"He's taken time to set out in judgements clear guidance particularly to the Magistrates Court about matters, and I think a lot of those judgements will be in use for years to come," he said.

Until the last few weeks there had been one thing missing from the judge's CV.

He had never overseen a murder trial, until the Al Harazi jury trial last month.

But today will be a day for plaudits from the bar and the bench.

Justice Refshauge will be replaced by current Associate Justice David Mossop.