The keys to the Tarrant police headquarters are firmly in the hands of Chief Wendell Major after a Jefferson County judge today tossed out the final legal challenge to his service.

Jefferson County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Ballard dismissed a lawsuit from Mayor Wayman Newton. The mayor of Tarrant, just north of Birmingham, sought to stop the city council from reinstating the police chief that he suspended last week.

The ruling is the second major win for the embattled police chief in less than 24 hours. The council during a heated meeting Monday unanimously voted to reinstate Major, ending his administrative leave. Monday’s meeting was raucous at times, filled with jeers, yelling and finger pointing as residents and council members castigated Newton for removing Major.

Attorney Wayne Morse, who represents the city council, said city leaders hope today’s action will usher in a new and more amicable era. ”The council hopes that the mayor will communicate and not litigate,” Morse said.

The mayor however, is not done with his fight. Newton told AL.com this afternoon that he will file an amended complaint in addition to seeking a restraining order to block Major’s return to office.

Newton accused the chief of poor performance, including underreporting crime, and even blamed him for contributing to confusion surrounding a shooting last week off Interstate 59 in west Birmingham.

Major and city council members called Newton’s litigation unnecessary and part of an ongoing grudge against the chief.

“I stand firm in my commitment to the safety of our community and the professionalism of the Tarrant Police Department. It is disheartening that misinformation is being spread to divert attention from the real issue – a lack of prudent planning and decision-making by Mayor Waymon Newton,” Major said in a statement today. “Moving forward, I call for transparency and accountability. We must focus on collaborative efforts to ensure the effective operation of our law enforcement services and the well-being of our citizens.”

Newton said he is acting no differently than he would in any other personnel matter.

“This is the standard procedure for any type of police misconduct, you go on admin leave while everything is being investigated,” Newton said.

Noting Newton’s series of lawsuits, Mayor Pro-Tem Tracie Threadford on Monday night said the council would take its own action to recoup expenses for what she called frivolous litigation.