October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1116
Can states block out-of-state wine sales to local stores?
States argue they may restrict direct wine sales from out-of-state producers. Producers argue this violates the Commerce Clause.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Ms. Halligan argued the Twenty-First Amendment does not propose a nondiscriminatory ban.
Mr. Casey argued states may restrict importation by out-of-state vendors.
Mr. Bolick argued states may regulate alcohol by one set of rules.
Ms. Sullivan argued the case does not require taking on the three-tier system.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-4 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-54
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests state power over alcohol sales. States claim the Twenty-First Amendment allows them to favor local vendors. Producers argue this rule discriminates against interstate commerce.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 7, 2004.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-44
What each side wants
States want to keep laws that block out-of-state wine sales.
Producers want to sell wine directly to local stores.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
What each side says
States argue the Twenty-First Amendment allows them to restrict out-of-state alcohol imports.
Producers argue states must apply one set of rules to all alcohol vendors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked why the Constitution did not include specific non-discrimination language.
Justice Kennedy asked if the entire three-tier system must be eliminated.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-4 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-54
Why it matters
This dispute determines whether states can favor local wine producers. It affects the ability of out-of-state producers to sell directly to retailers. The outcome shapes the balance between state regulation and interstate commerce.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-12 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 46-4 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 46-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 18-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 18-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 8-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 10-14 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 10-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-36 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 34-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 4-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 4-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 1-4 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 1-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 40-42 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 40-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 62, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 62, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 38-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 38-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 40-54 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 40-54
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 46-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 46-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 18-54 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 18-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 14-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 14-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 21-1 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 21-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-21 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 25-54 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 25-54
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.