ATLANTA (AP) — A judge has ruled that a Georgia state senator acquitted of illegally claiming mileage and expense reimbursement is entitled to have the state pay his legal bills.

The Daily Report (http://bit.ly/1igXQVn ) writes that Fulton County Superior Court Judge Henry Newkirk signed an order Monday saying Sen. Don Balfour is entitled to the reimbursement of the $156,000 he paid his lawyers.

An attorney for Balfour had submitted a letter to the state Department of Administrative Services citing a state law that allows public officials who faced charges stemming from performance of their official duties to be reimbursed if they are acquitted. The repayment comes from the state's liability insurance.

Balfour was indicted on 18 felony counts in September. A jury in December found him not guilty on all 18 counts.

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