Khaberni - Judge Matthew E.B. Thornhill resigned from the St. Charles County Court in Missouri, USA, after a punishment imposed by the judicial discipline committee due to his bizarre actions during court sessions, which included wearing a wig styled like rock star Elvis Presley's hair and sometimes playing his music during proceedings.
The official report clarified that the judge aimed to calm the litigants through these actions, but the committee believed this undermined the seriousness and integrity of the court.
The report also revealed that Thornhill usually wore the wig towards the end of October (Halloween), along with the traditional judicial robe and a white scarf, sometimes with sunglasses similar to the singer's, which astonished both colleagues and litigants alike.
According to the "BBC," the judge would give witnesses or parties the option to take the oath while Elvis music played from his phone, and he sometimes mentioned the singer's birth and death dates and quoted lyrics from his songs during sessions, reflecting his deep obsession with the singer.
Thornhill was known for his intense love for Elvis Presley, having visited Graceland 13 times since his childhood, affirming that the singer’s memories accompanied him throughout his life, which led him to try to introduce this musical culture into the courtroom atmosphere.
In addition to his obsession with the singer, the committee observed other behaviors related to politics and promoting his election campaign from the bench, which was considered a breach of order and seriousness.
The judge agreed to the recommendations that stipulated a suspension without pay for six months, followed by continuation of service for 18 months before retirement, thus ending his career spanning two full decades in the judiciary.
