Arizona Direct Wine Shipment Lawsuit Suspended, Awaiting Resolution of Issue by U.S. Supreme Court

WEB RELEASE: March 12, 2004
CONTACT:
John Kramer
Lisa Knepper
(703) 682-9320
[Economic Liberty]    

Washington, D.C.–The Institute for Justice Arizona Chapter agreed today to suspend its lawsuit against the State of Arizona challenging its ban on direct shipment of wine to Arizona consumers.

Plaintiffs in two lawsuits challenging similar laws in Michigan and New York have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review their cases.  Because the courts in those cases reached opposite results, the odds for Supreme Court review are much higher than normal.

“It doesn’t make sense to litigate the Arizona case given the high probability that the Supreme Court will resolve the issue in the relatively near future,” explained Clint Bolick, vice-president of the Institute for Justice and lead attorney in both the New York and Arizona cases.

Twenty-four states, including Arizona, prohibit the direct interstate shipment of wine to consumers.  IJ-AZ represents Virginia winemaker Lewis Parker, who could not ship wine to Arizona consumer John Norton because of the state’s ban.

“The direct shipping bans benefit no one except the liquor distributors, who seek to preserve their monopoly profits,” charged Bolick.

Legislation sponsored by State Sen. Barbara Leff is pending in the Arizona Legislature.  The bill would increase direct shipping opportunities to Arizona consumers