The agitators, under the banner of Advocates Forum for Social Justice, led by lawyer K Balu, staged the protest near the high court campus.
They urged the collegium to reconsider its decision, saying the advocate had never practised in the Madras High Court.
"Posting an outsider to the Madras High Court seriously falls foul of social justice in the state," the forum claimed.
The collegium has recently given its nod for appointment of nine advocates, including the one practising in the Supreme Court, as judges of the Madras High Court.