A Missouri court is all shook up following the resignation of a judge who was disciplined for wearing an Elvis Presley wig in court and occasionally playing the singer's songs during proceedings.
Matthew EP Thornhill, the longest-serving circuit judge in St Charles County, is a self-described Elvis lover, according to his biography page.
But his love for the King of Rock'n'Roll contributed to a disciplinary commission demanding his suspension, citing his frequent irrelevant Elvis references in court.
In a letter explaining his actions, Judge Thornhill stated his aim was to add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants.
I now recognize that this could affect the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings, he wrote in a letter dated November 12 to the Missouri Supreme Court.
According to a report by Missouri's Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges, Judge Thornhill would routinely wear an Elvis Presley wig on or about October 31 in court while conducting court business.
The report shows images of the judge sitting on the bench while donning an Elvis wig with his signature black pompadour and sunglasses.
Occasionally, he would give litigants or witnesses the option of being sworn in while playing Elvis music from his phone and refer to the singer during court proceedings.
Judge Thornhill's burning love for all things Elvis is well-documented. In an interview with a local media outlet last year, he expressed he had visited Graceland, where the singer lived and is buried, 13 times.
The disciplinary report also cites unrelated conduct, like sharing his political affiliations or preferred candidates from the bench and promoting his own election campaign. The commission found he had failed to maintain order and decorum in the courtroom and recommended a six-month suspension without pay.
Judge Thornhill did not dispute any of the allegations in his letter and agreed to retire after two decades on the bench.
