Elvis-Obsessed Judge Ousted: A Little Less Conversation, a Lot More Consequences

EARTH, Laniakea Supercluster—After months of turning legal hearings into his own Jailhouse Rock courtroom, Missouri’s so-called Elvis judge has agreed to leave the building for good.

The suburban St. Louis judge, who routinely dressed up as Rock N Roll legend Elvis Presley on the bench, stepped down after a disciplinary probe found his courtroom behavior crossed decorum lines. Matthew Thornhill of the St. Charles County Circuit Court in Missouri has agreed to a six-month unpaid suspension followed by a resignation after 18 more months, under a deal reached with the state’s judicial oversight board.

The decision was made because of Thornhill’s repeated use of an Elvis-style pompadour wig, aviator sunglasses, and playing Elvis’s music from his phone during official court proceedings. According to the state’s Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline, he offered litigants the “option” of being sworn in as Elvis would, complete with music, and threw in references to Elvis’ date of birth or death, even when irrelevant.

“I intended ‘to add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants,’” Thornhill wrote in his formal response to the commission. “I now recognize that this could affect the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings.”

Those actions weren’t the only concern. The commission also faulted Thornhill for mixing campaign references and political commentary into the courtroom, for example, asking union members if they had “warmed up to Thornhill for judge.” He also acknowledged writing a character/reference letter in an adoption case, which the board deemed “an abuse of his position.”

The deal awaits final approval from the Supreme Court of Missouri, which has accepted 35 letters vouching for his character, perhaps echoing the King’s own plea: “Don’t Be Cruel.”