A Georgia judge has taken his own life in his courtroom.
Judge Stephen Yekel’s body was discovered Tuesday morning in the Effingham County courtroom.
The 74-year-old Yekel had recently lost a bid for re-election and was found by an alternate on what would have been his last day on the bench. WSAV reports.
Officials said he fatally shot himself, but an autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said Yekel was discovered between 10 and 10:30 a.m., but it appeared he shot himself Monday night.
Yekel was appointed to the state court in 2022. He had attempted to resign from office but was prevented from doing so by Governor Brian Kemp.
McDuffie said he understood Yekel had sent a note to the governor’s office but did not make its contents public.
The courtroom is closed and will resume normal operations on January 2.
Georgia Judge Stephen Yekel took his own life in his courtroom
Yekel was a former Chatham County Assistant District Attorney and a practicing attorney with more than 45 years of experience.
He previously held positions as a special agent in the state’s Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Unit and was an investigator in the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.
In May, Yekel’s ex-wife Lisa Yekel shared a post on Facebook outlining several issues that reportedly plagued his re-election campaign.
She dismissed rumors that their divorce the year before was the result of infidelity and denied that he asked a police officer not to give him a summons after a car accident.
“His best friend, who recently passed away, had Steve’s car in his shop for repairs and loaned him a vehicle to use, which is why he wasn’t driving his car when he was involved in the accident,” she wrote .
“He was on his way home from visiting our daughter who had just moved into her apartment in Pooler.
‘The Steve Yekel I know would never have asked the police officer not to give him a summons. He has always taken responsibility for his actions.”
She also alluded to the financial difficulties the couple had faced due to a failed daycare.
“He did everything he could to avoid bankruptcy,” she added. ‘Unfortunately I had used his savings to keep the daycare open.
Yekel had recently lost a bid for re-election and was found by a deputy on what would have been his last day on the bench
Yekel was discovered in an Effingham County courtroom
He had lost a bid for re-election earlier this year and had asked Governor Brian Kemp if he could resign, but the request was denied
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said he was found Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
“In my defense, I was too lenient with parents who couldn’t pay their bills and they ended up leaving with thousands of dollars in debt. Again, that’s my fault, not Steve’s.’
She concluded the message by saying her ex-husband was “one of the most respectful, honest and caring people I know” and urged people to re-elect him.
Yekel ultimately lost his re-election bid to Judge Melissa M Calhoun.
The late judge also faced a lawsuit from court employee Lisa Crawford, who claims she was wrongfully fired from her position by Yekel, WTOC reports.
Crawford sought $10,000 in damages amid claims Yekel fired her to bring in his own staff when he took office.
An email reportedly filed as part of Yekel’s lawsuit to Crawford accused her of being part of a “conspiracy scheme” to help people accused of drunk driving reduce or dismiss their charges ways.
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