{"argument_date":"2019-01-16T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2019-01-16T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2018","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Dvoretzky argued the Twenty-First Amendment restored state powers over alcohol.","Mr. Franklin argued states have complete control over liquor distribution systems.","Mr. Phillips argued the history of alcohol regulation supports state residency rules."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-51"}]}],"caption":"Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Assn. v. Blair","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:20.324148Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Tennessee requires out-of-state residents to live in the state for one year before buying a liquor license. Out-of-state retailers argue this rule discriminates against interstate commerce.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2019-01-16T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2018","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/18-96.html","primary_docket":"18-96","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T17:59:55.285360Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["Tennessee law requires a person to live in the state for one year before purchasing a liquor license. Out-of-state retailers claim this rule violates the Commerce Clause. Tennessee argues the Twenty-First Amendment grants states broad control over alcohol distribution."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 16, 2019."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Out-of-state retailers want the Court to strike down the residency requirement.","Tennessee wants the Court to uphold the residency requirement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Out-of-state retailers argue the rule discriminates against interstate commerce.","Tennessee argues the Twenty-First Amendment allows states to control alcohol distribution."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Sotomayor asked the side that brought the case to clarify their position.","Justice Alito asked if a ten-year residency requirement would be constitutional."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether states can restrict who may buy liquor licenses. It affects interstate commerce in the alcohol industry. It defines the scope of state power under the Twenty-First Amendment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 27-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 17-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-53","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-53"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 41-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 41-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 7-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 41-51"}]}],"slug":"2018-18-96-tennessee-wine-and-spirits-retailers-assn-v-blair","term":"2018","title":"Does Tennessee's residency rule for liquor licenses violate the Commerce Clause?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 49-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 49-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 35, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 35, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 23-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2018/18-96_09m1.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 23-17"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}