A devastating incident occurred in Effingham County, Georgia, as Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, took his own life inside his courtroom. His body was discovered on Tuesday morning, believed to have been shot dead late Monday night or early Tuesday. This tragic event unfolded on what would have been his last day on the bench, following a recent loss in his re-election bid.
Yekel had attempted to resign from his position, which he held since his appointment in 2022, but Governor Brian Kemp prevented him from doing so. The circumstances surrounding his resignation attempt are unclear, as the contents of a note sent to the Governor’s office remain undisclosed.
According to Mail Online, citing local media, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation is currently probing the incident. Effingham County Sheriff, Jimmy McDuffie, expressed his shock and sadness, stating, “The courtroom has been closed until January 2.” The county has offered condolences to Yekel’s family and loved ones, describing his death as a “tragic loss.”
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 cited his disappointment with the 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.” However, 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 outlining 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. “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.
Lisa Yekel also hinted at financial problems the couple had faced over a failed daycare business. “He did everything he could to avoid bankruptcy. 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 concluded the post by stating her ex-husband was “one of the most respectful, honest, and caring people I know” and urged people to re-elect him.
Throughout his service, Yekel stated, “I’ve upheld the principles of dignity, respect, and impartiality, treating all individuals, whether represented by legal counsel or not, with fairness and equality.” However, Yekel ultimately lost his re-election bid to Judge Melissa M Calhoun.
The late judge was also facing a lawsuit from court employee Lisa Crawford, who claims she was wrongfully terminated from her position by Yekel. Crawford was seeking $10,000 in damages amid claims Yekel fired her in order to bring in his own staff when he assumed office. An email reportedly submitted as part of the lawsuit from Yekel to Crawford accused her of being part of a “conspiracy scheme” to help people charged with DUI reduce or dismiss their charges.
