On Wednesday, November 26, 2025, St. Louis Public Radio reported that St. Charles County judge Matthew Thornhill is seeking to retract his previous agreement to resign following the release of photographs showing him in an Elvis Presley costume in the courtroom.
Thornhill’s lawyers filed a legal motion with the Missouri Supreme Court, arguing that the state’s disciplinary commission violated a confidentiality agreement by releasing the images, which subsequently went viral.
The initial disciplinary actions against Thornhill stemmed from multiple complaints, including wearing the Elvis outfit, mentioning his political affiliation while campaigning from the bench, and attempting to intervene in an adoption case. The Elvis-related incidents, which included allowing litigants and defendants to be sworn in while Elvis music played, garnered significant media attention.
In the recent filing, Thornhill differentiates between the Elvis-related actions and other instances of alleged misconduct. While acknowledging “misjudgment” in certain situations, he claims that actions like wearing Elvis attire during a Halloween docket and allowing litigants to choose between a gavel or music for minor name changes were intended to build trust. He also admitted to placing a religious tract on a lawyer’s car.
Thornhill had previously admitted to the court on November 12 that the remaining counts against him were “a mistake and improper” and a “failure on my part to maintain proper order and decorum.” As part of the disciplinary proceedings, he conceded that the allegations against him were “substantially accurate,” stating that his intention with the Elvis costume and references was to “add levity at times when I thought it would help relax litigants.”
The original agreement involved a six-month suspension followed by an 18-month return to the bench before a forced retirement. However, Thornhill now argues that the unauthorized release of the Elvis photos has “tainted” the agreement, rendering it “void and unenforceable” due to the “public, irreparable harm to his reputation.” His lawyers are requesting the court to discard the previous agreement and instead impose a 60-day suspension.
The legal filing accuses Jeffrey Benoist, the director of the disciplinary commission, of violating the confidentiality agreement by submitting the photos for publication through the state’s online court filing system. Thornhill claims that Benoist even asked him to put on the Elvis sunglasses and wig for a photograph, which was later used as evidence in the disciplinary proceedings.
Eddy Justice, the chair of the disciplinary commission, stated that he could not comment on the specific facts of the case but confirmed that a response to the motion would be issued.
Last week’s edition of St. Louis on the Air, Thornhill’s resignation and Elvis-related conduct were discussed during the Legal Roundtable. Attorney David Roland expressed reservations about levity in the courtroom, stating that he would question whether a judge wearing a costume was taking their role seriously.
It is important to note that the initial agreement between Thornhill and the commission was not binding and required approval from the Missouri Supreme Court. Thornhill’s recent request does not address whether he intends to remain a judge.
Source: St. Louis Public Radio
