A judge was found dead in a Georgia courtroom on what was to have been his last day on the job, authorities said Tuesday.
Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies found State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, on Tuesday morning. He appears to have died by suicide, the sheriff’s office said.
Yekel, who was appointed to the bench two years ago by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, lost his election bid earlier this year. His term was scheduled to end Dec. 31, 2024.
“The family’s distraught,” Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie told reporters Tuesday. “It’s supposed to be a happy time this time of year and now they’ve got this.”
McDuffie said one of his deputies discovered Yekel’s body after authorities were dispatched to the courthouse on a report of a possible suicide at 10:20 a.m. It appears Yekel may have died Monday night, he said.
Court was not in session Tuesday, the sheriff said, adding that Yekel’s autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.