“The proposition that judges are closeted elite who do not understand the real world impact of crime is simply untrue,” said Bathurst. “Not only are judges members of the community, but sentencing judges have seen more of the reality of crime than most members of the community can imagine.”

Judges in NSW have recently come under fire in the wake of the death of Thomas Kelly.

Kelly died after receiving a king-hit to the head in Kings Cross in Sydney in July 2012. In November 2013, his killer, Kieran Loveridge, received a four-year minimum sentence for manslaughter.

Following Kelly’s death and that of Daniel Christie last month after a similar one-punch assault in Kings Cross on New Year’s Eve, NSW premier Barry O’Farrell has introduced eight-year minimum mandatory sentences for one-punch assaults.

Bathurst said that judges should not be immune from criticism, but debate about mandatory sentencing should be “informed debate”.

“An informed debate on the issue must go further than simply attacking sentences currently imposed by the courts, particularly if such attacks are without regard to the common law and legislative principles which underpin such sentences,” he said.

Bathurst also hit-out at personal attacks on judges, saying that in the last 12 months three NSW Supreme Court judges have received death threats.

“One assurance I can give, however, is that judges, consistent with their judicial oath, will continue to apply the law as they perceive it without fear or favour,” he said. “That, I would suggest, is the true mark of judicial courage.”

The Penrith President

Prior to Bathurst’s speech, Ros Everett was revealed as the new president of the NSW Law Society.

Everett set up her own practice in Penrith in Sydney’s west shortly after being admitted in 1996.

“As a single mum with a big mortgage and no money, it was tough,” she said, telling the room full of judges and senior legal figures that she set up her own practice after quickly realising that she had little chance of being a partner within an established law firm. “Fortunately the practice was very successful and I never looked back.”

During her speech Everett took aim at NSW workers compensation reforms in 2012, saying they have “seriously compromised access to justice”.

Everett also criticised mandatory sentencing, expressing scepticism that it would lead to reductions in drug and alcohol violence.

“Studies show that mandatory minimum sentences just don’t work,” she said. "They had little or no deterrent effect, and impacted on disadvantaged groups.

“Each case must be determined on its facts and we must maintain judicial discretion.”

Everett also announced that the NSW Law Society was in its final stages of negotiating a contract with Lifeline to provide a counselling service to NSW lawyers.

The new service would be known as Lifeline Legal.

Everett replaces Maroubra solicitor John Dobson as the Society’s president.