On Tuesday, December 31, 2024, NBC News reported that a Georgia judge was discovered dead in a courtroom on what was meant to be his final day in office. State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, was found by deputies from the Effingham County Sheriff’s Office early Tuesday morning. Authorities indicated that the judge’s death appears to be a suicide.
Yekel, who had been appointed to the bench by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp two years prior, had recently lost his bid for re-election. His term was set to conclude on December 31, 2024. Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie expressed that Yekel’s family is devastated, particularly during a season that is typically filled with joy.
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies were summoned to the courthouse at around 10:20 a.m. following reports of a possible suicide. It is believed that Yekel may have died the previous evening. The courthouse was not in session at the time of the incident.
Yekel was admitted to the state bar on June 14, 1976, and maintained good standing until his death. He presided over various criminal cases and preliminary matters in Springfield, located approximately 26 miles north of Savannah.
In a letter dated December 2, Yekel requested to resign after his unsuccessful electoral campaign, expressing concern over the legitimacy of the election process in Effingham County. Despite winning the initial voting round in May, he lost in the runoff. Yekel requested that his resignation take effect on December 30, the day before the end of his term, but Governor Kemp rejected the request, asserting that the election results should stand.
A spokesperson for Governor Kemp refrained from commenting on the ongoing investigation but extended thoughts and prayers to Yekel’s family and loved ones during this challenging time.
Source: NBC News
