A Georgia state judge has died by suicide after shooting himself in his own courtroom. Judge Stephen Yekel, 74, was found dead by a deputy on Tuesday, his last day on the bench, after he lost a bid for re-election, according to WSAV.

A judge was found dead in a Georgia courtroom on what was to have been his last day on the job, authorities said Tuesday.

A Georgia state judge has died by suicide on his official last day on the job. The Effingham County Sheriff’s Office said that Judge Stephen Yekel appeared to have “died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound” to the head on Tuesday, Dec. 31 at the Effingham County Courthouse, Sheriff Jimmy McDuffie, told local ABC affiliate WJCL .