Judge Todd Thornhill 1961-2022

The legal profession deeply grieves the loss of a devoted public servant and esteemed colleague with the passing of Judge Todd Thornhill.

Judge Thornhill was a graduate of Missouri State University and Mizzou Law and started his legal career as an associate with Woolsey, Fisher, Whiteaker and McDonald. When that firm disbanded, he was employed by Rob Palmer who said “Todd worked with me for three years before becoming a judge. He was an excellent lawyer but more importantly a very good friend.”

In 1993 Judge Thornhill was appointed to the bench and a year later he was named Chief Judge of the Springfield Municipal Division, 31st Judicial Circuit. Throughout his nearly 30-year tenure in that role, Judge Thornhill went above and beyond to serve the profession in meaningful and impactful ways.

“Judge Thornhill was a stalwart in the Springfield Municipal Division and was recognized throughout the state for his skill, expertise and compassion in handling the varied matters that came before him in the Municipal Court” said Michael Cordonnier, Presiding Judge of the 31st Judicial Circuit.

Because of his expertise in municipal law and municipal court operations Judge Thornhill was appointed by the Supreme Court of Missouri to serve on several commissions and work groups including the Commission on Racial and Ethnic Fairness, the Municipal Clerk Education Committee, and the Standing Committee on Practice and Procedures in Municipal Division. In 2015 he was appointed to the Municipal Division Work Group.  That select committee proposed sweeping changes which were adopted by the legislature leading to significant advancement on how municipal courts adjudicate cases in the state of Missouri. Judge Thornhill's work to advance access to justice will have a lasting impact.

Not only did Judge Thornhill go above and beyond with his service to the bench, but he was also an active member of the SMBA.  He was a founding sustaining member and served on the Bench and Bar Committee for a decade.  

Judge Thornhill was particularly engaged in supporting the future of the profession. Every year he hosted the SMBA’s “Tour de Courts” group for lunch in his courtroom. SMBA President Nate Dunville said “He made it a welcoming place for lawyers, regardless of their municipal experience.”

Judge Thornhill always made himself available to mentor others and countless new lawyers have benefitted from his assistance and advice. Judge Wendy Garrison reflected on his mentorship smoothing her transition from lawyer to judge and said “Working with him, I gained a new respect for his intelligence, his ability to cite the law accurately from memory (to include specific statute and rule numbers) and the constant care he took to make thoughtful decisions. He well understood that his decisions affected lives and this understanding was evident by the passion he exhibited in the courtroom.”

Judge Thornhill’s volunteer service was not limited to professional commitments. He gave generously of his time with broader community engagement. Some serve in these capacities for a few years, but Judge Thornhill did so for decades.  He was a regular at the downtown Y and served on that board for eight years. He coached and refereed youth sports and served as a volunteer judge for teen court as well as countless mock trials and debate tournaments. He was no mere figurehead, he dug in, did the work and made a difference.  May we all honor his example by trying to do the same.

Private family services will take place with a celebration of life scheduled for a later date.  Those details will be provided when available.  Online memorial messages may be made at Gorman-Scharpf. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to the Humane Society of Southwest Missouri.

The Springfield Metropolitan Bar expresses heartfelt condolences to Judge Thornhill’s wife Cynthia, and his son Ryan.