Missouri Judge Forced to Resign After Courtroom Elvis Impersonation

St. Charles County Circuit Judge Matthew Thornhill was feeling the spirit of the "king" for Halloween this year. Judge Thornhill loves Elvis Presley. This nugget is clearly stated on his on his St. Charles County Court judges bio-page. The judge's passion for the king of rock and roll took a turn around All Hallows Eve.

Judge 'Elvis fan' wears bow ties? Seems contradictory your honor

On Halloween, Thornhill showed up to court wearing a molded Elvis wig, 70s Elvis stylized sunglasses and a scarf like Presley would wear onstage and wipe sweat from his brow with, then give to fans. Thornhill also played Presley’s music from his phone as if it were entrance music when he came into the courtroom. The judge didn’t stop there. According to court records, he injected Elvis facts into proceedings when they weren’t relevant to anything in the cases.

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The judge has been forced to resign his position on the bench, following what appears to be pushing the bit too far. There was also a previous situation where Thornhill violated Missouri Supreme Court rules in his handling of a parental rights/adoption case, and sharing who his preferred candidates were to others in the courtroom. Throw in the Elvis impersonation from the bench, and the Show-Me State decided that was enough and responded by pointing out that Thornhill failed to maintain order and decorum in his courtroom.

St. Charles County Courthouse - St. Charles, Missouri

Thornhill isn’t denying anything, and acknowledges that he made mistakes. Per Missouri rules, Thornhill will be placed on an unpaid 6-month suspension, will come back to the bench for 18 months, then officially resign. The soon-to-be former St. Charles judge grew up in the county and per his bio-page states that “no other judge has served St. Charles County longer than him”. He now cannot seek re-election, or an appointment to any other position as a judge in Missouri.