Lowell Barron is a happy man.

DeKalb County Circuit Judge, Randall Cole, signed an order on Tuesday – dropping the case against the former state senator and former campaign aide Rhonda Jill Johnson.

In April 2013, Attorney General Luther Strange secured a six count indictment charging the 72 year old seven term ex-senator and his 48 year old former aide – with violation of ethics and campaign finance laws. Barron retired from politics following his defeat at the hands of Republican Shadrack McGill in 2010.

Just prior to jury selection in April of this year (2014), Judge Cole ruled that the issue of any possible “romantic relationship” between Barron and Johnson couldn’t be raised during the trial; Attorney General Strange called the ruling “fatal” to the prosecution. Meanwhile, both Barron and his attorneys contended that prosecution was politically motivated by Attorney General Strange, who is seeking re-election.

Following the order on Tuesday, Barron said he was going back to doing what he does best these days – spending time with his grandchildren.

(Ft Payne Times-Journal/www.times-journal.com)