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A Missouri judge known for donning Elvis Presley wigs and playing the iconic singer’s tunes in his courtroom has decided to resign from his position.
Judge Matthew Thornhill explained that his intention was to “bring some levity to proceedings when I believed it could ease tensions,” but he also acknowledged that “this approach might undermine the seriousness and integrity of the legal process.”
Stationed in St. Louis, Thornhill has consented to a six-month unpaid leave before resuming his duties for 18 months, after which he will step down early. This decision comes as part of an agreement with a state board, allowing him to bypass a disciplinary hearing.
The state’s Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline highlighted Thornhill’s tendency to emulate the king of rock ‘n’ roll, even including images of him in costume, complete with wig and sunglasses, alongside staff in their report.
A Missouri judge known for his Elvis Presley-inspired wigs and courtroom music has opted to leave the judiciary. (St. Charles County Circuit Court via AP; Missouri Supreme Court)
The report also mentions Thornhill bringing up politics while on the bench, including saying his party affiliation and which candidates he prefers.
It says that Thornhill regularly wore the wig around Halloween, sometimes walked into the courtroom while playing Elvis’ music and sometimes offered litigants the option to be sworn in while he played his music on his phone.
He would also allegedly make random references to Elvis during court proceedings at times.
The commission found his Elvis antics violated rules for “order and decorum” and to “promote confidence in the integrity of the judiciary” while in the courtroom.
Document showing Judge Matthew Thornhill dressed as Elvis in front of a cardboard cutout of Elvis and a poster of him. (Missouri Supreme Court)
The agreement is pending before the Missouri Supreme Court, which has accepted 35 character references for Thornhill.
Thornhill was elected associate circuit judge in 2006, where he served for 18 years, and in 2024 he was elected Circuit Judge in Division 4, and is the longest serving judge in the county, according to the St. Charles County Circuit Court website.
He’s presided over 25 jury trials and thousands of bench trials during his career.
Thornhill writes in his biography on the court’s website that he loves Elvis. (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
His biography adds that he “loves Elvis, surfing, gardening, watching soccer, golfing with his children, and running with his dog on the Katy Trail.”
Thornhill was also reprimanded and fined $750 in 2008, after he reduced the charges for a woman after she offered him a baseball signed by Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw that turned out to be fake, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
He denies taking the ball.