Missouri judge’s Elvis-themed antics and political campaigning lead to disciplinary action
A US judge in Missouri has found himself in hot water after being disciplined for presiding over a court case while wearing an Elvis Presley wig and occasionally playing the singer’s music during hearings.
Judge Matthew EP Thornhill, the longest-serving circuit judge in St Charles County, was found by a disciplinary panel to have turned his courtroom into a tribute to the late rock ‘n’ roll icon, with court filings revealing photographs of him in a plastic Elvis wig and oversized sunglasses.
The judge, an admitted Elvis devotee, explained that his intention was to “relax litigants” and add some levity to otherwise tense courtroom situations. However, his Elvis-themed conduct did not go unnoticed. The panel found that Thornhill would sometimes offer litigants the option of being sworn in while Elvis songs played from his phone, and he would drop references to the King’s lyrics, birth date, and death date during hearings, even when these had no relevance to the case at hand.
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The commission concluded that such actions undermined the required level of decorum and integrity expected of a judge. Thornhill accepted that his behaviour had risked damaging the solemnity of the proceedings and, in a letter to the Missouri Supreme Court, admitted that the conduct was inappropriate. He did not contest the disciplinary findings and described them as “substantially accurate.”
This Elvis-themed behaviour was not the only issue under scrutiny. Thornhill was also found to have discussed his political preferences during cases and promoted his own re-election campaign by asking courtroom participants whether they had seen his campaign signs around town.
The disciplinary commission has recommended a six-month suspension for Thornhill, followed by an additional 18 months of service before his retirement. The Missouri Supreme Court is currently reviewing the proposed penalty.
For now, Thornhill’s actions serve as a reminder that while judges may want to add some flair to the proceedings, they must also adhere to the professional standards of judicial conduct. In the case of Judge Thornhill, the ethics commission appears to have issued a firm reminder: when channelling Elvis, it’s best to take care not to ‘leave the building’ of judicial restraint.