A St. Charles County judge who became notorious for bringing Elvis Presley into the courtroom has been abruptly removed from office by the Missouri Supreme Court, ending a nearly two-decade judicial career amid concerns that his behavior undermined the integrity of the judiciary.

The unanimous decision by the state’s highest court came at the end of December, rejecting a previously negotiated disciplinary agreement and ordering Judge Matthew E.P. Thornhill off the bench effective immediately, according to the court document.

The Supreme Court’s decision marked the culmination of a disciplinary process triggered by Thornhill’s unconventional courtroom antics, which included wearing an Elvis Presley wig during proceedings, making frequent and irrelevant references to the late rock ’n’ roll legend, and playing Presley’s music from his phone, even during the swearing-in of litigants.

The Missouri Times reported that the state Commission on Retirement, Removal and Discipline labeled the behavior “Elvis Presley–related conduct,” concluding that it eroded public confidence in the judiciary’s seriousness and impartiality.

Thornhill had initially agreed to a negotiated deal that would have required his resignation after two years on the bench, including serving a six-month unpaid suspension, but the Supreme Court found the arrangement illogical and insufficient.

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