Citations issued to Occupy Nashville protesters dismissed - WKRN, Nashville News, Nashville Weather and Sports

Occupy Nashville protesters who were arrested and cited last month for trespassing on state Capitol grounds got their citations dismissed during a hearing Monday morning in Nashville.

General Sessions Judge Dianne Turner issued the ruling.

Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam's spokesman said prosecutors were asked last week to drop charges against dozens of Occupy Nashville protesters.

Spokesman David Smith said the decision to dismiss the charges against 55 protesters was made in light of a federal judge's ruling that the state couldn't enforce the new curfew on the grounds around the state Capitol.

State troopers arrested protesters the nights of Oct. 28 and Oct. 29, but both times a Nashville magistrate refused to jail the protesters.

*The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Previous Stories:

• Nov. 10, 2011: Governor seeks to drop Occupy Nashville charges
• Nov. 9, 2011: Staffer says she was urinated on near Occupy Nashville protesters
• Nov. 4, 2011: Occupy movement spreads to Murfreesboro
• Nov. 3, 2011: Occupy Nashville protesters deliver letter to governor
• Nov. 2, 2011: Faces of Occupy Nashville revealed
• Nov. 1, 2011: Occupy Nashville comes with cost
• Nov. 1, 2011: Haslam: Curfew, arrests, necessary for safety
• Oct. 31, 2011: Tenn. agrees to stop arresting Occupy protesters
• Oct. 30, 2011: Occupy Nashville protesters expect arrests
• Oct. 29, 2011: Judge dismisses Occupy Nashville warrants
• Oct. 28, 2011: Arrested Occupy protesters issued citations, released
• Oct. 26, 2011: Occupy Nashville protesters stand their ground
• Oct. 18, 2011: Occupy Nashville protesters march through downtown
• Oct. 6, 2011:'Occupy Nashville' protest held at Legislative Plaza