Official announcement from Effingham County Courthouse

Georgia Judge Stephen Yekel Dies by Self-Inflicted Gunshot in Courtroom After Re-election Loss and Resignation Rejection

Dec 31, 2024, 10:09 PM

State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, aged 74, of Effingham County, Georgia, was found dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound inside his courtroom on New Year's Eve, which was his last day in office. Yekel had recently lost his re-election bid and had attempted to resign earlier in December, but his resignation was rejected by Governor Brian Kemp. The judge's body was discovered by a deputy between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, though it is believed he died late Monday night or early Tuesday morning. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is set to perform an autopsy to confirm the cause of death. Yekel, who had over 45 years of legal experience, was appointed to his position by Kemp in 2022. Following the incident, the Effingham County courthouse was closed and will resume operations on January 2.