On the morning of Tuesday, December 31st, according to local authorities, a Georgia judge was found dead in his courtroom on the last day of his term. The deceased judge was identified as Stephen Yekel, a 74-year-old state court judge who apparently died by suicide, as confirmed by the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 10 a.m., deputies received a call indicating a possible suicide, and subsequently discovered Yekel in the courtroom. However, the Sheriff’s Office mentioned that Yekel might have died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) will be responsible for conducting the autopsy. Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie expressed that Yekel’s family is deeply saddened, stating, “This time of year should be joyful for them, but now they are faced with this tragedy.”
Yekel was appointed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in 2022, but lost a judicial election last month. His term was supposed to end on December 31, 2024. Yekel had requested Kemp to shift his last day to December 30th, which was denied.
The reasons for Yekel’s request to end his term a day early, as well as the Governor’s refusal, remain unclear. Yekel primarily oversaw initial criminal matters in Springfield, Georgia, and had a good reputation since becoming a lawyer in 1976.
Governor Kemp has not made any public comments regarding Yekel’s death yet, but a spokesperson from the Governor’s Office expressed that Yekel’s family is receiving their thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
Effingham County Sheriff’s Office indicated that Yekel appeared to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The Effingham County Board of Commissioners expressed deep sorrow for Yekel’s passing in a statement, describing it as “very tragic.”
They stated, “The Effingham County Board of Commissioners and staff are deeply saddened by the unfortunate death of Judge Stephen Yekel today at the Effingham County Courthouse. Our condolences go out to his family and loved ones.”
Governor Kemp, a Republican, had previously denied claims of election fraud by Trump after the 2020 presidential election, insisting on certifying the election results, leading to a rift between him and Trump.
In 2021, Kemp signed the “Integrity Election Law,” expanding early in-person voting and strengthening state government control over local public office elections.
During the 2022 Republican primary for Governor, Kemp decisively defeated David Perdue, who had received an endorsement from Trump, securing the Republican nomination and winning the final election.
(This article was adapted from a report by “Just The News”)