Judge Stephen Goss of the state Court of Appeals died Saturday morning from a single gunshot wound, Albany police reported on Facebook.

"Foul play is not suspected," the police reported in the early afternoon.

Later, the police issued a statement from Dougherty County District Attorney Greg Edwards: "The investigation is ongoing but it does not appear to be a homicide."

The Albany Herald reported, "Amid speculation that the fatal shot was self-inflicted, Dougherty County Coroner Michael Fowler said that such determination had not been made by mid-morning Saturday."

The newspaper also reported that the coroner said the GBI Crime Lab would investigate.

Chief Judge Chris McFadden said Saturday: "All of us at the Court of Appeals are deeply saddened by the sudden death of our friend and colleague, Judge Steve Goss. He was a soft spoken, unassuming man. The more one got to know him, the more one grew to like and respect him. He was a judge to whom other judges turned for guidance, a nationally recognized expert on accountability courts. On a personal level, I had looked forward to a long and deepening friendship."

State Supreme Court Chief Justice Harold Melton issued this statement: "Judge Goss was a man who brought so much dignity and compassion to the delivery of justice all across this great state. He was a national figure, known for his work on mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. His legacy is as great as our sense of loss. Our court and this state's judiciary express our profound condolences to the Goss family."

This the second sudden loss for the Georgia appellate community in less than a year. Last November, former Chief Justice Harris Hines, who had recently retired from the state Supreme Court, died in a car accident.

Goss was a trial judge for 23 years in Albany, including 19 years on the superior court. Last year Gov. Nathan Deal elevated him to the Court of Appeals.

Judge Amanda Mercier, who served with Goss on the Superior Court and the Court of Appeals said, "He was someone I considered a mentor for many years. He exemplified everything an outstanding judge should be. But more importantly, he was one of the kindest, most thoughtful people I know. He quietly gave so much, and asked for nothing in return. He will be missed."

Earlier this month, Goss told the Daily Report he was in the process of setting up his 2020 campaign committee. Goss had not raised any funds for the election, according to his latest campaign financial disclosures.

In a February interview by email, Goss told the Daily Report, "As a trial judge, I liked being able to help resolve disputes and guide persons to make positive life changes."

He started the felony mental health and substance abuse treatment court in Albany in 2002. "That work has been a career passion," Goss wrote. "I continue to assist drug and mental health court teams around the country on training and education matters. In my new role as an appellate judge, I like being able to use my years of experience as a trial lawyer and trial judge to seek to apply practical views to the substantive laws and their consistent application statewide."

Asked what keeps him up at night, Goss wrote, "Like most trial judges (or former trial judges) will tell you, the cases involving children are typically the ones we struggle with the most emotionally, whether it be custody disputes or criminal cases involving child victims."

People had posted dozens of condolence messages on the Albany police Facebook page. "He has made an impact on this city and with mental health," wrote one. "He was such a gentleman and was always willing to help you," wrote another.

Gov. Brian Kemp tweeted on Saturday, "A native Georgian, trusted counsel, and man of integrity, Court of Appeals Judge Stephen Goss will be sorely missed by countless people across our state and nation. The Kemp family asks God to give comfort to his loved ones, friends, and colleagues in this difficult time."

The Court of Appeals website biography of Goss, who went by the name Steve, said he grew up on the family farm in Sale City, Mitchell County, Georgia. He graduated in 1983 from the University of Georgia with a B.A., cum laude, majoring in political science. He graduated from the University of Georgia School of Law with a J.D., cum laude, in 1986.

Goss was a partner in the Albany law firms of Watson, Spence, Lowe and Chambless and  Cannon, Meyer von Bremen and Goss, the biography said. He was engaged in a general civil trial practice trying tort, business, land use and zoning cases. "In addition to his private practice, Steve tried indigent felony criminal cases and served as the solicitor for the Dougherty Circuit Juvenile Court," the biography said.

"In 2002, Judge Goss founded the Dougherty Superior Court Mental Health/Substance Abuse treatment program," the biography continued. "It was the first felony mental health court in Georgia and one of the early felony programs in the United States. He participated in a small work group that helped to develop the national essential elements guide for mental health court programs. Since 2006, the Dougherty Superior Court program has served as one of four national Learning Sites for mental health courts as designated by the United States Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Council of State Governments."

Goss served on state committees on mental health by appointment of Gov. Sonny Perdue and Gov. Nathan Deal, the biography said.

Goss was married to the former Dee Collins of Cotton, a middle school teacher in Albany for 33 years, according to the biography. "They are the parents of two daughters, Collins and Clark, and a son, Clint. Steve and Dee are members of Porterfield United Methodist Church in Albany."