EFFINGHAM COUNTY, GA — Police in south Georgia are investigating the death of a state court judge.

Effingham County Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie says it appears Judge Steve Yekel died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A deputy found him dead in the courthouse Tuesday morning.

Yekel had over four decades of experience and served two years as the state court judge. He recently lost re-election and wrote to Governor Kemp saying he wanted to resign, but Kemp did not accept the resignation.

The GBI will perform an autopsy. The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation.