Can a judge of second instance in a criminal case refuse to see a lawyer?

You can't. According to the provisions of the Criminal Procedure Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) and the Lawyers Law, the defendant has the right to hire a lawyer to defend, and the lawyer also has the right to safeguard the defendant's legitimate rights and interests. In the trial of criminal cases, the judge should fully protect the defendant's right to defense and the lawyer's professional rights, and must not hinder the lawyer from carrying out normal defense activities. Therefore, the judge of second instance in criminal cases cannot refuse to see a lawyer.