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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| Georgia judge Stephen Yekel shoots himself dead inside courtroom on last day in office |
| 2025-01-02 |
| [DAILYMAIL.CO.UK] 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. He is believed to have shot himself dead. 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, WSAV reports. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is now probing the horrific incident. Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie said Yekel was discovered around 10am, but it appeared he had shot himself late Monday night or early Tuesday. Yekel was appointed to the state court in 2022. He had tried to resign from his position, but was prevented from doing so by Governor Brian Kemp. McDuffie said he understood Yekel had sent a note to the Governor's office regarding the resignation, but did not disclose its contents. 'The Effingham County Board of Commissioners and staff are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Judge Steve Yekel at the Effingham County Courthouse today and we offer our condolences to his family and loved ones,' a statement from the county read. Father-of-four Yekel 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 was an investigator at the Cobb County District Attorney's Office. Yekel's resignation letter to Governor Kemp cites his disappointment with low turnout for the election he lost. In the event a judge resigns, a new one would be appointed by the Governor rather than voted in. Yekel wrote the position is, 'too important to be decided by only 6% of eligible voters'. But Kemp rejected the resignation request, stating he wishes to maintain, 'respect for the will of the people of Effingham County.' In May, Yekel's ex-wife Lisa Yekel shared a post on Facebook which outlined several issues reportedly plaguing his re-election campaign. She 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. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #4 ...Wonder what they're gonna find. Mike |
| Posted by: MikeKozlowski 2025-01-02 17:16 |
| #3 Former ATF gestago was he? Nice legacy to leave your kids and grandkids. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2025-01-02 11:04 |
| #2 ...could of immigrated to Canada to get that kind of retirement. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2025-01-02 10:11 |
| #1 Kinda opens the doors to a lot of his cases for appeal. Using unstable judge and rulings. |
| Posted by: NN2N1 2025-01-02 03:28 |