JCIO 60/26

   

A spokesperson for the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office said:

Mr Justice Keehan, on behalf of the Lady Chief Justice and with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor, has issued Mr Ansar Gulzar JP, a magistrate on the Buckinghamshire Bench, with a reprimand for serious misconduct.

Facts

Upon appointment, all magistrates sign a declaration and undertaking to maintain the dignity, reputation and good standing of the magistracy. Judicial office holders are subject to constraints in their private life and must not act in a way which could reduce respect for judicial office or cast doubt on their independence, impartiality or integrity. Guidance also makes clear that magistrates should not use the suffix ‘JP’ or judicial titles on social media.

Mr Gulzar was the subject of a complaint concerning four Facebook posts published between June 2025 and January 2026. It was alleged that the posts expressed views on highly controversial and political matters and included content capable of creating the impression that Mr Gulzar held a prejudicial view of matters involving Jewish people and Israel. It was further alleged that his Facebook and LinkedIn accounts referred to his judicial office.

Following an investigation under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, a nominated committee member of the South-East Region Conduct Advisory Committee found that the Facebook account was Mr Gulzar’s account, that it bore his name and image, and that the posts were publicly viewable. It was also found that his Facebook account referred to him as a magistrate and that his LinkedIn account referred to his judicial office.

Mr Gulzar’s representations

Mr Gulzar accepted that he posted the four Facebook posts and took full responsibility for them. He said that he had been under the impression that the posts could only be seen by his family and friends and were intended for general discussion. He disputed the translation or interpretation of one of the posts and said that he should have been more careful with his choice of words.

Nominated committee member’s findings and recommendation

Following an investigation under the Judicial Conduct (Magistrates) Rules 2023, a nominated committee member found the allegations proven and concluded that Mr Gulzar’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct. In reaching this recommendation, the nominated committee member found that the four posts formed a course of conduct rather than a series of isolated incidents, that they expressed views on highly controversial and political matters, that they had the potential to cause emotional harm and undermine public confidence in the judiciary, and that Mr Gulzar had referred to his judicial office on social media contrary to the applicable guidance. The nominated committee member recommended a reprimand.

Decision

After careful consideration, Mr Justice Keehan and the Lord Chancellor agreed that Mr Gulzar’s conduct amounted to serious misconduct and issued him with a reprimand. 
 

Notes for Editors

Media queries in relation to the JCIO should be made in the first instance to the Judicial Press Office - telephone 020 7073 4852 or via email - press.enquiries@judiciary.gsi.gov.uk 

Sanctions for misconduct by judicial office-holders are set out in the Constitutional Reform Act 2005. They are, in order of severity: formal advice, formal warning, reprimand and removal from office.

For more information about the Office, including details on how to make a complaint against a judicial office holder, you can visit the JCIO website at: Judicial Conduct Investigations website