Friday, Feb. 3, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- A Georgia judge has rejected a complaint that sought to keep President Barack Obama off the state's ballot for next month's presidential primary.

Deputy Chief Judge Michael Malihi filed his decision Friday. The complaint contended Obama isn't a natural-born U.S. citizen and therefore should not be on the state's ballot. Malihi said in his decision that it has been determined that Obama was born in the U.S.

Similar complaints have been filed in other states with no success.

Obama's local attorney Michael Jablonski did not attend a hearing last week in Atlanta. Plaintiff's attorneys urged Malihi to hold him and the president in contempt. The judge said in his decision he doesn't condone Jablonski's conduct but did not hold him or the president in contempt.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)