In a curious and controversial case from suburban St. Louis, Missouri, Judge Matthew Thornhill has agreed to a disciplinary deal that will effectively shorten his judicial career. Known for his unconventional courtroom behavior—most notably wearing an Elvis Presley wig and playing Elvis’s music during court proceedings—Thornhill’s actions have drawn scrutiny from a state oversight board and the Missouri Supreme Court. Under the terms of the agreement, Thornhill will face a six-month unpaid suspension followed by 18 months on the bench before resigning from his position on the St. Charles County Circuit Court.
The unusual case first gained attention when reports emerged that Judge Thornhill, an experienced jurist, incorporated elements of Elvis Presley’s persona into his courtroom. These antics included donning a plastic Elvis wig and sunglasses, playing Elvis’s songs from his phone while entering the courtroom, and even playing music when swearing in witnesses. Thornhill also reportedly offered witnesses various options for their oath, one of which involved an Elvis-themed swearing-in, all of which raised eyebrows.
The disciplinary action against Thornhill stems from a complaint, though court records do not disclose who filed it. The Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline, which oversees judicial conduct in Missouri, investigated the matter and found that Thornhill’s behavior violated rules requiring judges to maintain order, decorum, and public confidence in the judiciary’s integrity. The commission noted that his Elvis references—ranging from song lyrics to mentioning Elvis’s birth and death dates during court—were irrelevant to the proceedings and undermined the solemnity and dignity of the courtroom.
In addition to his Elvis-themed conduct, Thornhill was also faulted for discussing politics openly during court business. He made references to his political affiliation and campaign efforts, including mentioning where his “Thornhill for Judge” signs were posted and commenting that some litigants or attorneys lived in what he called “Thornhill for Judge Country.” At one point, he asked a court participant whether their labor union had “warmed up to Thornhill for judge,” further blurring the line between judicial impartiality and political campaigning. Thornhill acknowledged the mistake of these political remarks but insisted they did not influence any judicial decisions.
Another point of concern was Thornhill’s involvement in an adoption case, where he provided a character letter—a move deemed inappropriate and an abuse of his judicial position by the commission. Thornhill admitted the letter was a “mistake and improper,” demonstrating some degree of contrition in his responses.
The agreement Thornhill reached with the disciplinary board aims to avoid a formal hearing by accepting a six-month unpaid suspension, after which Thornhill will continue serving for a limited period before resigning. This deal is now pending review by the Missouri Supreme Court, which recently agreed to accept 35 letters of support attesting to Thornhill’s character. Thornhill himself wrote a letter dated November 12, expressing that his intention in incorporating levity into the courtroom was to help relax litigants during stressful proceedings. However, he conceded that such behavior could compromise the integrity and solemnity of the judicial process. He pledged to serve the people of Missouri with “honor and dignity” in the future.
Matthew Thornhill is a long-serving judge in St. Charles County, with a judicial career spanning nearly two decades. According to his official biography, he was first elected an associate circuit judge in 2006 and later became a circuit judge in 2024, primarily overseeing family court cases. Prior to his judgeship, Thornhill worked as an assistant prosecutor in the same county. His public persona extends to social media, where his Facebook page has amassed over 300 followers.
Thornhill’s career has not been without controversy even before this latest incident. In 2008, he was reprimanded and fined $750 after a scandal involving a case where he reduced charges against a woman who allegedly offered him a baseball signed by NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw. Thornhill denied accepting the baseball, which was later determined to be a fake, but the incident nevertheless resulted in disciplinary action.
Legal professionals and local observers have reacted with a mixture of surprise and amusement to Thornhill’s Elvis-themed courtroom behavior. Brendan Roediger, a local attorney, commented to St. Louis Magazine with a tongue-in-cheek reference to an Elvis song: “Suspicious minds are wondering about the punishment. It’s now or never—either he should be a judge or he shouldn’t.” The images of Thornhill wearing the Elvis wig on the bench,