Judge Nanette Williams has presided over the Dubbo District Court since 2020, but from next month she will head to Sydney to preside over the Parramatta District Court.

Reflecting on the past two years, Judge Williams said it has been "humbling" to return to the place she grew up.

"I was very blessed to get appointed [as a Judge] and very grateful because it's given me the opportunity to serve the people of NSW as best I can in the administration of justice," she told the Daily Liberal.

During her time presiding over a court region that covers almost 25 per cent of the state Judge Williams said while it was somewhat isolating, both socially and practically, her time in regional NSW has helped her grow as a judicial officer.

"The pressure and tempo of work here is extraordinary and I've had to learn how to make up my mind efficiently and give what we call an ex-tempore judgement, which you have to process a lot of information very quickly and come to a decision, particularly with sentencing matters," she said.

"And that is a skill that I've developed and I'm really pleased that my skillset has in my view increased a lot over the last couple of years.

"One of the difficulties I think that regional judges face is the isolation. Because being a judge, whilst you're a part of the community of course, there has to be a sense of separation - not only should justice be done, but it should be seen to be done - so you can't go around socialising and drinking and partying as you might otherwise.

"But even on a practical level, just working out what to do with a complex legal issue. Sometimes everybody else is in court and you can't find anybody to answer, so I've learned to back my own decisions, which is good for one overall development and as a judicial officer."

Some of Judge Williams' most memorable moments in Dubbo include initiating a smoking ceremony at the opening of the law term, and pausing court to pay tribute to trailblazer for Indigenous justice John Halden 'Hal' Wootten.

"When I came up here last year I wanted to have a smoking ceremony and we invited an Aboriginal elder, and many elders from the community came, and it was amazing," she said.

"People were crying because they found it so inclusive ... and now the Law Society have told me they want to make that a part of every opening of the law term ceremony to have that. So that's been a particularly stand out moment."

However, her most humbling moment was receiving a letter from an offender after sentencing.

"There was a person being sentenced and it was very long and complex and it took a long time, and we had to sit late often," she said.

"Anyway at the end of it I sentenced him and everything was finished, and he handed up a note through his lawyers to me, and he thanked me for the efforts I had put into his matter.

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"He said 'I don't think people understand the complexity of your profession or the strain it must put you under continuously' and I thought that was pretty nice that somebody actually acknowledged that it is a tough job and is often a thankless job.

"It was very very touching to receive that note. He didn't know how I was going to sentence him, but nonetheless, I think that's what made it very nice, because he wasn't trying to carry favour with me he was being appreciative."

One of the most challenging moments during her time on the bench was the COVID-19 pandemic and the strain it placed on the justice system.

"In the very beginning I remember coming to work one day and one of the court staff was talking to me about social isolation - I had absolutely no idea what she was talking about but now those words are such a part of our lexicon of life," she said.

"People weren't allowed in the court room, we conducted the courts business for many, many months by way of audio-visual link and we've had to adjust to that."

From drought, to floods, a mice plague and pandemic, Judge Williams praised the resilience of people in the region, and thanked juries who gave up their time to help administer justice.

"Dubbo is a very special place, it's unique because the people here are very resilient," she said.

"People who willingly come in response to their jury summons and put their own lives on hold because of the need to have juries, and from my observations on the bench Dubbo juries are extraordinary, they are so obliging, they listen carefully to the directions, do everything that's asked of them.

"I've been very welcomed here by the court staff and the sheriffs, and it's just been eye-opening to see how hard people work and how committed they are to the administration of justice."

Judge Williams said Dubbo holds a special place in her heart as it was the city she first moved to in 1962 with her late parents, Len and Shirley Williams.

Mr Williams was a linesman with PMG, while her mother worked at the telephone exchange - metres from Judge Williams' now chambers.

Judge Williams went to primary school in Dubbo, before completing her HSC at Dubbo High School. She said it was the teachers there that encouraged her to study law at Sydney University.

"We had wonderful teachers back there who really believed in us country kids and said to us we could do anything we wanted to," she said.

"They were very supportive and so that was an important part of the journey. Two other kids from my school year got into medicine at Sydney University, so country kids can really achieve, because teachers are really passionate and very devoted."

With an interest in criminal law at university, Judge Williams went on to secure a job at The Office of Director of Public Prosecutions, where she worked for more than 32 years.

"It was a wonderful career and there was always something different, and it was challenging and I worked with wonderful colleagues there," she said.

"I loved that job very much.

"I became a crown prosecutor and then a deputy senior crown prosecutor, and in that I developed a skills set, running trials, appearing on behalf of the state, the crown, and working out how the courts function."

As of 2022 Judge Craig Smith SC will be presiding over the Dubbo District Court.

"I'll miss Dubbo very much. I'll miss the kind people who've welcomed me and I'll miss the vastness of the sky and clouds, and just to be by the river," Judge Williams said.