Georgia judge found dead by apparent suicide in courtroom on last day of his term

A Georgia judge was found dead Tuesday morning inside his courtroom on what would have been the last day of his term, according to local authorities.

The judge has been identified as 74-year-old State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, who appeared to have in an apparent suicide, according to the Effingham County Sheriff’s office. 

Deputies found Yekel in the courtroom after receiving a call about a possible suicide at about 10 a.m. However, he could have died Monday night, the office said. 

“The family’s distraught,” county Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie told reporters, per NBC News. “It’s supposed to be a happy time this time of year, and now they’ve got this.”

An autopsy will be completed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The death comes after Yekel, who was appointed by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in 2022, lost his election last month. His last day in office was scheduled for Dec. 31, 2024. Yekel had asked Kemp to make his last day in office Dec. 30, but was the request was rejected. 

Yekel primarily oversaw preliminary criminal matters in Springfield, Georgia, according to NBC. He was admitted to the state bar in 1976 and was in good standing at the time of his death. 

Kemp has not commented on Yekel's death so far, but a spokesperson for the governor's office said Yekel's loved ones were in "our thoughts and prayers during this difficult time." 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.