The New South Wales chief justice has criticised Tony Abbott's "misconceived" comments on a judge's decision to approve a pro-Palestinian march on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
The former prime minister said it should not be for judges to decide when a political protest was justified, in a social media post following Justice Belinda Rigg's ruling last August.
In a speech to the legal profession on Thursday night, Chief Justice Andrew Bell said Mr Abbott's remarks were regrettable.
The chief justice said Justice Rigg's decision was not about whether a political protest was justified, as would have been clear "to anyone who took the time to read it".
"This comment was, with respect, misconceived," Chief Justice Bell said.