Judge Carlton Vines formally resigned from his position as State Court Judge in Chattooga County ending the legal battle he has been in for several months with state prosecutors concerning alleged voter fraud in the 2006 State Court Judge Election.

Vines’ attorney Rex Abernathy stated that the terms of Vines’ resignation and agreement with the state to drop charges proves that the case against Vines was politically motivated.  Abernathy told the Rome News Tribune, "The charges were all about politics from the start; this certainly proves it — they wanted a judgeship from the beginning and now they got it.”

AM 1180 Chattooga County obtained a copy of the Motion to Enter Nolle Prosequi….the document that spells out the details of the state dropping charges against Judge Vines.  It lays out the following requirements

1.  Vines must enter  into a consent order with the Judicial Qualifications Commission to resolve all issues with that Commission

2. Vines must resign his position of  Chattooga County State Court Judge effective May 1

3. Vines must provide acknowledgement that the Governor has accepted his resignation

4. Vines must promise not to seek judicial office in the future and must make the announcement public "without vilification of any perosn or party involved in the investigation."

AM 1180 Chattooga County Radio obtained a copy of Governor Perdue’s acceptance of Vines resignation which is dated April 23, 2009. 

In the meantime Judge Sam Finster told the Rome News Tribune that he would work under the assumption that he remains state court judge until the end of Vines term and continue his plans for a drug court in Chattooga County.