Judiciary
Courthouse rock, political talk lead to potential suspension for Elvis-loving judge
The Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges has recommended a six-month unpaid suspension for Judge Matthew E.P. Thornhill of the 11th Judicial Circuit in St. Charles County, Missouri. (Image from the Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges’ Nov. 14 recommendations)
A Missouri judge accused of wearing an Elvis Presley wig in court on Halloween and sometimes playing the rock icon’s music in the courtroom is facing a potential suspension after acknowledging the substantial accuracy of a three-count ethics complaint.
The Missouri Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges recommended a six-month unpaid suspension Nov. 14 for Judge Matthew E.P. Thornhill of the 11th Judicial Circuit in St. Charles County, Missouri. After serving the suspension, Thornhill would return to the bench for 18 months and retire on the last day, with an agreement never to return to the bench.
The recommendation goes to the Missouri Supreme Court for approval.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, KSDK, Fox 2 Now, St. Louis Magazine and the St. Louis Business Journal have coverage.
According to the first count of the ethics complaint, Thornhill failed to maintain decorum when he:
• Routinely wore an Elvis Presley wig on Halloween while conducting court business in the courtroom, his chambers and the courthouse.
• Sometimes gave litigants and witnesses a choice of how to be sworn in, including an option that involved playing Presley’s music from his phone.
• Sometimes mentioned Presley and Presley’s lyrics during court proceedings.
• Sometimes played Presley’s songs and other music from his phone when entering the courtroom or while on the bench.
A second count accuses Thornhill of engaging in conduct involving political activity when he mentioned his political affiliation or preferred candidates from the bench and mentioned his judicial campaign signs. In one instance, he allegedly asked a litigant who worked for a union whether his organization had “warmed up to Thornhill for judge.”
A third count alleges that Thornhill hand-delivered his character reference to a judge to be used in an adoption case, thereby abusing the prestige of his judicial office to advance private interests of another person.
In a Nov. 12 letter, Thornhill said he carefully reviewed the allegations, and they are “substantially accurate.”
Thornhill said his intention relating to the Presley matters was “to add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants. I now recognize that this could affect the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings.”
Turning to the second count, Thornhill said references to campaign signs were sometimes made by litigants or himself in informal conversations. His intent, he said, was to put litigants at ease, and the references never impacted a decision.
“However, this was a mistake and a failure on my part to maintain proper order and decorum,” he said.
He also acknowledged that the personal reference that he provided to a judge “was a mistake and improper.”
“Similarly, I regret any inconvenience that I may have caused the court,” he wrote. “I can assure you that I will do my very best in the future to serve the people of the state of Missouri with honor and dignity.”
Thornhill was represented by attorney Neil Bruntrager, who did not immediately reply to the ABA Journal’s emailed request for comment. Thornhill also did not immediately reply to a message seeking comment left on a voicemail for his clerk.
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