A judge in a Georgia courtroom was found dead on what was supposed to be his last day on the job, authorities announced Tuesday.
Effingham County Sheriff’s Deputies located State Court Judge Stephen Ikel, 74, Tuesday morning. According to the sheriff’s office, the man appears to have died by suicide.
Yekel was appointed to the seat two years ago by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp, but ran unsuccessfully for election earlier this year. His term was scheduled to end on December 31, 2024.
“The family is distraught,” Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie told reporters Tuesday. “This time of year is supposed to be a happy time, and now they’ve got this.”
McDuffie said one of his deputies discovered Iker’s body after authorities were called to the courthouse on a report of a possible suicide at 10:20 a.m. He said he may have died during the night.
No court was in session Tuesday, the sheriff said, adding that Iker’s autopsy would be performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
Iker was admitted to the state’s bar on June 14, 1976, and was in good standing at the time of his death, according to bar records.
He presided over the preliminary criminal case and other cases in Springfield, about 42 miles north of Savannah.
In a Dec. 2 letter to Kemp, Mr. Yekel pointed to campaign failures and called for his resignation, according to a copy of the memo. Yekel won the first round in May, but lost in the run-off.
According to a copy of the memo, Iker asked for his resignation to take effect on Dec. 30, the day before his term expires.
“I think the Effingham County Court Judge position is far too important to be decided by just 6 percent of Effingham County voters,” he said.
Kemp rejected the request, saying the results of a fair election “should not be invalidated based on concocted legal techniques.”
A spokeswoman for Judge Kemp declined to comment on the investigation, citing it as a public investigation, but said: “We are thinking of Judge Iker’s family and loved ones during this difficult time.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988 or live chat at 988lifeline.org. You can also visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional support.
