Stephen Goss, appeals court judge, died by suicide, coroner rules

ALBANY, Ga. — A Georgia coroner says an appeals court judge who was found dead from a gunshot over the weekend killed himself.

Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler told a news conference that an autopsy completed Monday concluded Judge Stephen Goss died by suicide. WALB-TV reports the coroner said a gun was found beside Goss’ body but authorities found no note.

Goss was appointed to serve on the Georgia Court of Appeals last year after spending nearly 20 years as a Superior Court judge in Albany in southwest Georgia. In 2002, Goss founded Georgia’s first felony mental health court in Dougherty County.

Police said officers dispatched Saturday to Goss’ Albany home found him dead outside.

Fowler said officials investigating the judge’s death “made sure we took our time and did our job thoroughly.”