What Happened To The Judge Who Broke The Guitar

On November 7th, 2018, an anonymous post on an internet forum went viral in the United States: an image of a judge banging on a guitar in the courtroom, with the caption “what happened to him?” The response to the judge—Judge Joseph H. McKinley Jr. of the United States District Court for the Western District of Kentucky—was a mixture of shock and amusement. But soon, the laughter died down and people began to wonder—what had become of the judge since his viral moment?
To answer this question, it’s important to understand why Judge McKinley played the guitar in the first place. On the day in question, two lawyers had been debating, making a verbal sparring match of the courtroom. When they refused to arrive at a conclusion, McKinley grabbed the guitar, given to him by the Court Clerk, and strummed a few chords in an attempt to capture their attention.
In the wake of his viral moment, the most pressing consequence of McKinley’s guitar playing journey was what happened to his reputational standing. He was not disciplined or suspended from his post, but there were calls from legal organizations for the removal of his sitting. His comedic actions in the courtroom had many questioning his seriousness towards his judicial duties. In the end, after things had died down, McKinley was allowed to remain in his post and continues to serve to this day.
But for the man himself, there was a silver lining. Despite the controversy that ensued from his instrument playing, the judge received many letters from well-wishers commending him for his actions that day. On top of that, thanks to his newfound recognition, McKinley was gifted a brand new, signed, electric guitar to replace the one he had broken. He now keeps the guitar close, perhaps providing an escape from the oftentimes mundane proceedings of a courtroom.
All in all, Judge Joseph H. McKinley Jr. remains in his post to this day, and this viral moment has not changed that. The controversy that ensued that day helped him gain attention, both positive and negative, but it ultimately did not change the way that he performs his duties in the courts. Even so, he may never forget the moment he strummed those chords in the courtroom and the ensuing effect.