Judge Matthew Thornhill, from Missouri, said he was trying to “help relax litigants” through his light-hearted antics, but now appreciated that they “could affect the integrity and solemnity of the proceedings”, the BBC reports.

A disciplinary report said the judge “would routinely wear an Elvis Presley wig on or about [Halloween]” and would play Elvis songs while litigants or witnesses were being sworn in.

He also made frequent and “irrelevant” references to Elvis in the course of his work, including by quoting Elvis lyrics.

The report recommended that Judge Thornhill be suspended for six months and then be allowed to resume his judicial work for 18 months before retiring.

The judge said the allegations in the report were “substantially accurate” and he accepted the recommendations.