Georgia judge Stephen Yekel allegedly shot himself inside courtroom on Tuesday, Dec 31

Yekel, 74, 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

His body Yekel was discovered inside a courtroom at the Effingham County State Court around 10.30 am

Pending the autopsy report, the death is reported as suicide because Yekel had what appeared to be self-inflicted gunshot injuries

Georgia judge Stephen Yekel has taken his own life inside his courtroom. Yekel, 74, 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

A Georgia state judge has taken his own life inside his courtroom.
The body of Judge Stephen Yekel was discovered inside Effingham County State Court on Tuesday morning. Yekel, 74, 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.
Deputies found his body inside an empty courtroom in the Effingham County Courthouse around 10:30 a.m on December 31. The retiring jurist it is alleged, fatally shot himself, but an autopsy will be carried out by The Georgia Bureau of Investigation to determine the exact cause of death.
Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said Yekel was discovered around 10am, but it appeared he had shot himself late Monday night or early Tuesday.

The father-of-four Stephen Yekel, seen [center] with his sons [L-R] Sean, Brett, Steve and Blake and Georgia Governor, Brian Kemp – had more than 45 years of experience in the legal profession, including being a former assistant district attorney in Chatham County

It is understood that Yekel who was already 72 when he was appointed to the state bench by Governor Brian Kemp in 2022, was facing professional and personal challenges, including a wrongful termination lawsuit and financial struggles stemming from his ex-wife’s failed daycare venture.
His attempt to be re-elected resulted in a loss to Judge Melissa M. Calhoun.
Furthermore, he was confronted with a lawsuit by court employee Lisa Crawford, who alleged he wrongfully terminated her. Crawford demanded $10,000 in damages, alleging that Yekel dismissed her to install his own personnel.
Documents filed in the lawsuit claimed that Yekel accused Crawford of being involved in a “conspiracy scheme” aimed at influencing DUI case results.
Following the loss Yekel tried to resign from his position, but was prevented from doing so by Gov Kemp. Sheriff McDuffie believes Yekel had sent a note to the Governor’s office, but did not disclose its contents. 
Meanwhile, the courtroom has been closed and will resume normal business on January 2. 
The father-of-four was a former assistant district attorney in Chatham County and practicing lawyer with more than 45 years of experience. 
He previously held roles as a special agent with the state’s Alcohol & Tobacco Tax Unit and once was an investigator at the Cobb County District Attorney’s Office.

Judge Yekel seen [left], with Governor Brian Kemp, had recently lost a bid for re-election. It is believed that he took his own life after a deputy found his body on what would have been his last day on the bench

In May, Yekel’s ex-wife Lisa Yekel shared a post on Facebook which outlined several issues believed to be plaguing his re-election campaign.
Lisa dismissed rumors their divorce the year before was due to infidelity and denied that he had asked a police officer not to give him a citation following a car accident.
‘His best friend who passed away recently had Steve’s car in his shop for repairs and loaned him a vehicle to use, which is the reason he was not driving his car when he was involved in the accident,’ she wrote.
‘He was on the way home after visiting our daughter who had just moved into her apartment in Pooler.
‘The Steve Yekel I know never would have asked the police officer not to give him a citation. He has always taken responsibility for his actions.’

Judge Yekel was discovered inside the Effingham County state court room early Tuesday morning Dec. 31. His death is believed to have been a suicide 

Judge Steve Yekel at his swearing in after being appointed by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp in 2022

She also hinted at financial problems the couple had faced over a failed daycare business. 
‘He did everything he could to avoid bankruptcy,’ she added.  ‘Unfortunately, I had used his life savings to keep the daycare open.
‘In my defense, I was too lenient on parents who couldn’t pay their bills and they eventually left owing thousands of dollars, again that’s my fault, not Steve’s,’ she wrote, as she went on to describe her ex-husband as, ‘one of the most respectful, honest, and caring people I know’ and urged people to re-elect him.

After Yekel lost his re-election bid earlier this year, he asked Governor Brian Kemp if he could resign. That request was denied

A profile in the Effingham Herald about Yekel’s campaign states that he and his ex-wife with whom he shares three sons and a daughter, moved to the area in 1999.
Yekel ultimately lost his 2024 re-election bid to Judge Melissa M Calhoun.