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Missouri Judge Known for Wearing Elvis Wigs Agrees to Resign After Panel Cites Integrity Concerns

Judge Matthew Thornhill of the St. Louis area, known for wearing Elvis wigs and playing Elvis music in court, agreed to a resignation plan after a state commission said his conduct compromised courtroom decorum and integrity. He will take six months of unpaid leave, return for 18 months, then resign early under an agreement pending before the Missouri Supreme Court. The commission cited repeated theatrical conduct and political remarks from the bench; Thornhill was previously reprimanded and fined in 2008.

10:05 AM, 11/22/2025Society
Missouri Judge Known for Wearing Elvis Wigs Agrees to Resign After Panel Cites Integrity Concerns

Judge Matthew Thornhill of the St. Louis area, who gained attention for occasionally wearing Elvis Presley wigs and playing Elvis music in his courtroom, has agreed to a resignation plan after a state oversight panel concluded his behavior undermined courtroom decorum and the integrity of proceedings.

Under the resolution reached with the Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline, Thornhill will take a six-month unpaid leave, return to the bench for 18 months, and then resign early. The agreement is intended to avoid a full disciplinary hearing and remains pending before the Missouri Supreme Court.

The commission’s report cited photographs of Thornhill wearing a wig and sunglasses with court staff and documented repeated instances in which his theatrical conduct—including entering the courtroom while Elvis music played, offering litigants the option to be sworn in with Elvis music, and making offhand Elvis references during proceedings—breached rules governing courtroom order and decorum.

Investigators also noted occasions when Thornhill referenced politics from the bench, mentioning his party affiliation and his preferences for particular candidates. The commission found that such comments, combined with his theatrical choices, risked diminishing the perceived solemnity and impartiality of the court.

Thornhill was first elected an associate circuit judge in 2006 and served in that role for 18 years. In 2024 he was elected circuit judge for Division 4 and is listed by the St. Charles County Circuit Court as the county’s longest-serving judge. Over his career he has presided over 25 jury trials and thousands of bench trials.

The commission’s file and media reports recalled a prior disciplinary matter in 2008 when Thornhill was reprimanded and fined $750 after reducing charges for a woman who had offered a baseball purportedly signed by Terry Bradshaw that later proved to be forged; Thornhill denies taking the ball.

The Missouri Supreme Court has accepted 35 character references submitted on Thornhill’s behalf as the agreement moves through the judicial review process.

What Happens Next

The resignation agreement is subject to final review by the state’s highest court. If approved, Thornhill will complete the six-month unpaid leave, return for the agreed 18-month period, and then step down early under the terms negotiated with the commission.

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