Missouri judge who wore Elvis wigs in courtroom agrees to resign after 'integrity' concerns

A Missouri justice who often wore Elvis Presley wigs successful his courtroom and played the precocious stone star’s music, has agreed to measurement down from the bench.

Judge Matthew Thornhill said that helium wanted to "add levity astatine times erstwhile I thought it would assistance unbend litigants," but besides recognized "that this could impact the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings."

Thornhill, who serves successful St. Louis, has agreed to instrumentality a six-month permission of unpaid lack earlier returning to the seat for 18 months, past resigning aboriginal pursuing a woody with a authorities committee that volition assistance him debar a disciplinary hearing.

The state’s Commission connected Retirement, Removal and Discipline mentioned Thornhill’s predilection to formal similar the king of stone ‘n’ roll, including photos of him dressed successful a wig and sunglasses with unit successful its report. 

FEDERAL JUDGE FINES, REPRIMANDS LAWYER WHO USED AI TO DRAFT COURT FILINGS

A Missouri justice who often wore Elvis Presley wigs successful his courtroom and played the precocious stone star’s music, has agreed to measurement down from the bench. (St. Charles County Circuit Court via AP; Missouri Supreme Court)

The study besides mentions Thornhill bringing up authorities portion connected the bench, including saying his enactment affiliation and which candidates helium prefers.

It says that Thornhill regularly wore the wig astir Halloween, sometimes walked into the courtroom portion playing Elvis’ euphony and sometimes offered litigants the enactment to beryllium sworn successful portion helium played his euphony connected his phone.

He would besides allegedly marque random references to Elvis during tribunal proceedings astatine times.

The committee recovered his Elvis antics violated rules for "order and decorum" and to "promote assurance successful the integrity of the judiciary" portion successful the courtroom.

Document showing Judge Matthew Thornhill dressed arsenic Elvis successful beforehand of a cardboard cutout of Elvis and a poster of him.  (Missouri Supreme Court)

HOUSE CONSERVATIVES RALLY BEHIND PUSH TO IMPEACH JUDGE BOASBERG OVER ROLE IN TRUMP INVESTIGATION

The statement is pending earlier the Missouri Supreme Court, which has accepted 35 quality references for Thornhill.

Thornhill was elected subordinate circuit justice successful 2006, wherever helium served for 18 years, and successful 2024 helium was elected Circuit Judge successful Division 4, and is the longest serving justice successful the county, according to the St. Charles County Circuit Court website.

He’s presided implicit 25 assemblage trials and thousands of seat trials during his career.

Thornhill writes successful his biography connected the court's website that helium loves Elvis.  (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

His biography adds that helium "loves Elvis, surfing, gardening, watching soccer, golfing with his children, and moving with his canine connected the Katy Trail."

Thornhill was besides reprimanded and fined $750 successful 2008, aft helium reduced the charges for a pistillate aft she offered him a shot signed by Pro Football Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw that turned retired to beryllium fake, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 

He denies taking the ball.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.