Attacks undermine judicial confidence: SC

Personal attacks and calls for the resignation of a NSW District Court judge by MPs and the media undermine public confidence in the legal system, a senior barrister says.

NSW Bar Association president Noel Hutley SC has hit out at calls for the resignation of Judge Clive Jeffreys after an appeal court almost doubled the sentence he handed confessed pedophile and former Bega Cheese boss Maurice van Ryn.

Transport Minister and Bega MP Andrew Constance on Tuesday called for Mr Jeffreys to reconsider the position he has held on the bench since March 2011.

Van Ryn, 59, was initially sentenced to seven years jail for regularly abusing nine children, some eight years old, from 2003 until 2014.

The victims were regularly abused at a swimming pool, while one youth was persistently abused under the pretext of van Ryn "helping him with computer games".

The Court of Criminal Appeal earlier this month almost doubled his non-parole period to 13 years and six months after finding Mr Jeffrey's sentence to be manifestly inadequate and "affront to the administration of justice".

Mr Constance said Mr Jeffreys' initial sentence was a slap on the wrist that suggested he made significant error of judgment.

"I'd suggest very clearly that Judge Jeffreys look within himself at what has occurred here as a result of his decision," he said in state parliament.

It's the fifth time an appeal court has increased a sentence handed down by Mr Jeffreys, according to News Corp.

But Mr Hutley says Mr Constance's call represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the separation of powers, which prevents any overlap between the government and judiciary.

"Personal attacks on judges applying the law in good faith, often in difficult and traumatic cases, is inappropriate," he said on Friday.

"It is important that judges are not placed under pressure or perceived to be placed under pressure as to how matters should be determined by ministers of Crown."

Mr Hutley said the judicial system had its own checks and balances to ensure proper scrutiny of judicial decisions.

"Personal attacks on members of the judiciary in the context of particular judgments undermine confidence in the justice system," he said.

Van Ryn won't be eligible for parole until June 2028.