Justice Manickavasagar Illancheliyan is known as a fearless judge. He had struck terror in the hearts of criminals in the Tamil-dominated Jaffna town.
Justice Ilanechelian's car was caught in a traffic block in Jaffna's Nallur junction when the shooting took place.
He was unhurt while the policeman suffered injuries. A man snatched the revolver of the policeman and opened fire at them.
Justice Ilanechelian had presided in high profile rape and murder case of Sivaloganathan Vithya, a young student in May 2015. The incident had caused much public outrage.