By Bob Walsh
Judge Steven Yakel had been a distinguished figure in the
legal community in Effingham County, GA., and had been a state court
judge for the last two years. Early yesterday morning Yakel shot himself to
death in his own courtroom in the county courthouse. He appears to have
been alone at the time. His body was discovered by Sheriff's deputies
about 10 a.m.
Yakel had
lost his reelection bid and had requested that Governor Kemp allow him
to resign his position. The governor chose to not accept the
resignation. Today (New Years Day) would have been Yakel's last day in
office.
Yakel has had some
grief in office. He was asserted to have issues of judicial misconduct
and a lawsuit from a former employee accused him of infliction of
emotional distress. These claims against him had been dismissed as
being unmeritorious due to insufficient evidence. There was no pending
administrative or legal action against Yakel.
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