US decide resigns after being disciplined for sporting Elvis wig in courtroom

[ad_1] <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/d002/live/6b379640-c70e-11f0-9fb5-5f3a3703a365.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="The State of Missouri's Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline of Judges An image of Judge Thornhill sitting at the court bench, taken from official court documents, showing him wearing an Elvis wig with the singer's signature black pompadour and sunglasses, as well as a traditional judge's robe with a white scarf around his neck. In front of him is a computer screen and a bottle of water. Behind him is a flag of the US and a flag of the State of Missouri. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> The State of Missouri's Fee on Retirement, Removing and Self-discipline of Judges Decide Thornhill of Missouri was disciplined for referencing Elvis Presley and dressing up because the singer in courtroom.

A Missouri courtroom is all shook up following the resignation of a decide who was disciplined for sporting an Elvis Presley wig in courtroom and infrequently enjoying the singer's songs throughout proceedings.

Matthew EP Thornhill, the longest-serving circuit decide in St Charles County, is a self-described Elvis lover, in line with his biography web page.

However his love for the King of Rock'n'Roll contributed to a disciplinary fee demanding his suspension, citing his frequent "irrelevant" Elvis references in courtroom.

In a letter explaining his actions, Decide Thornhill mentioned his purpose was "so as to add levity at instances once I thought it might assist calm down litigants".

"I now acknowledge that this might have an effect on the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings," Decide Thornhill wrote in a letter dated 12 November to the Missouri Supreme Court docket.

In line with a report by Missouri's Fee on Retirement, Removing and Self-discipline of Judges, which investigates allegations of judicial misconduct, Decide Thornhill "would normally put on an Elvis Presley wig on or about October 31" - or Halloween - in courtroom whereas conducting courtroom enterprise.

The report reveals photographs of the decide sitting on the bench whereas donning an Elvis wig together with his signature black pompadour and sun shades.

It provides that, occasionally, Decide Thornhill would give litigants or witnesses the choice of being sworn in whereas enjoying Elvis music from his telephone.

He would additionally check with the singer often throughout courtroom proceedings, together with mentioning his date of start or dying and lyrics from his music, in line with the inquiry report.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7a42/live/96e0dc30-c708-11f0-8651-e14c538db09b.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="St Charles County Circuit Court A portrait of Judge Thornhill, showing him smiling. He has short black and grey hair, with black-framed round eyeglasses. He is wearing his judges robe and a colourful, patterned bowtie. " class="sc-5340b511-0 hLdNfA"/> St Charles County Circuit Court docket Decide Matthew EP Thornhill is a self-described Elvis lover, in line with his biography web page.

Decide Thornhill's burning love for all issues Elvis is well-documented.

In an interview with a neighborhood media outlet final yr, he mentioned he had visited Graceland, the place the singer lived and is buried, 13 instances.

He added that Elvis was all the time on his thoughts since he was a toddler.

The disciplinary report additionally cites unrelated conduct, like sharing his political affiliation or most popular candidates in elections from the bench, in addition to selling his personal election marketing campaign by asking witnesses, legal professionals and litigants if that they had seen his "Thornhill for Decide" indicators round city.

The fee discovered that Decide Thornhill had "failed to keep up order and decorum within the courtroom", and really helpful he be suspended with out pay for six months, then serve for an additional 18 months earlier than retiring.

Within the 12 November letter, Decide Thornhill didn't dispute any of the allegations, saying they're "considerably correct" and acknowledged he had made a mistake.