A magistrate has been reprimanded for serious misconduct after complaints made regarding his social media posts, the Law Gazette reports.  Ansar Gulzar JP had published a series of Facebook posts from June 2025 to January 2026.  

In January, UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), a voluntary association, had suggested that Gulzar’s posts were of an antisemitic nature and incompatible with the judicial standards of a serving magistrate.  The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) found the posts expressed views that had the ‘potential to cause emotional harm and undermine public confidence in the judiciary’.  

One statement complained of was posted on 2 October 2025 following a terrorist attack on a Manchester synagogue where Gulzar had published, ‘question bothering me is why there is always an attack on a Jewish person when Israel wants to divert media attention?’ 

UKLFI said that the statement advanced a ‘conspiratorial narrative’, suggesting that Israel had played a part in manipulating media coverage.  Another post made in June 2025 by Gulzar had stated that, ‘Americans are Israeli slaves from 19th century’. 

All magistrates sign a declaration to maintain dignity and good standing of the magistracy. The guidance says those in such positions are subject to constraints in their private life and are expected to refrain from acting in any way that would reduce respect for judicial office. 

During their investigation into Gulzar’s conduct, the JCIO found that both his Facebook and LinkedIn account referred to his judicial status contrary to the guidance.   The JCIO found that his posts were publicly viewable. Gulzar said he had been under the impression that the posts could only be viewed by family and friends. 

Gulzar also contested the interpretation of one of the posts but eventually accepted full responsibility for them. 

Earlier in February 2026, the JCIO issued sanctions for similar conduct of another magistrate, Mr Morris Suckall JP. Where, Suckall said the posts were intended for a private audience. 

Following the investigation of Gulzar’s conduct, the JCIO issued Gulzar with a reprimand, the most severe form of a disciplinary sanction short of removal from office.