Peter Vickery, a QC and judge for a decade between 2008 and 2018, was found by an independent investigator to have harassed two associates who worked for him while he was at the bench.
Maintaining his innocence, Mr Vickery released a statement on Thursday "with a heavy heart" saying had he possessed sufficient awareness about his behaviour he would have, without hesitation, altered it.
"I extend my sincere apologies to both (women) for any distress unknowingly caused," he said, adding that they deserved respect for their courage in coming forward.
He said he never believed anything he did hurt the women.
"However, the investigation and the two reports, are preliminary only, and conducted within the limits set for it, have serious shortcomings," he said.
"Calling out individuals for their conduct is one thing. It is now surely time to deal with the issues."
Mr Vickery wrote a paper on workplace sexual harassment in December last year, updated on Wednesday, talking about the importance of strong policies for reporting harassment.
"Victims of sexual harassment need to be provided with a safe, secure, confidential and accessible facility to make legitimate complaints, which they can make without fear of reprisal or recrimination, career damage or any other form of detriment," he wrote.
"Unless this is provided, they will continue to be inhibited in coming forward, and the health of workplaces will suffer."
He praised the "electrifying" speeches given by Grace Tame and Brittany Higgins at the National Press Club.
"I join these voices," he wrote.
He also developed a draft plan for dealing with complaints, since adopted by a large healthcare provider.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Anne Ferguson thanked the women for coming forward with allegations against Mr Vickery, but did not name him.
Their lawyer, Josh Bornstein, said they had requested the court publicly name the judge "in the interests of transparency" and fairness to other judges.
Justice Ferguson said she was profoundly sorry for what the women experienced, describing the judge's conduct as wrong and reprehensible.
Sydney barrister Kate Eastman SC interviewed both women and the judge.
The reports found the judge kissed the women and put his hands between one woman's thighs after a dinner, The Age newspaper reported.
Mr Vickery reportedly claimed he fell in love with one of the women, writing to her in an email at her new workplace that "if falling in love with you was and remains a crime, I am guilty".
Ms Eastman found the women had experienced unwanted sexual advances, unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature and had received unfavourable treatment on the basis of their sex.
Former Supreme Court justice Marilyn Warren also issued a statement, applauding the women as "an inspiration to all".
Former Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner Helen Szoke published a report into sexual harassment in Victoria's courts last year.
"I think that's what we've seen - women have come forward and they've been encouraged and supported by other women to come forward, or they've felt more confident that the system is ready to believe them," she told AAP.
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