A judge was found dead in a Georgia courtroom on what was to have been his last day on the job, authorities said Tuesday.
Effingham County Sheriff’s deputies found State Court Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, on Tuesday morning.
He appears to have died by suicide, the sheriff's office said.
Yekel, who was appointed to the bench two years ago by Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, lost his election bid earlier this year.
Court was not in session Tuesday, the sheriff said, adding that Yekel’s autopsy will be conducted by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Yekel asked for the effective date of his resignation to be Dec. 30, one day before the end of his term, a copy of the note shows.
Kemp rejected his request, saying the results of a fair election "should not be nullified on the basis of manufactured legal technicality.". »
