Russell Thomas Tennessee ABC in Supreme Court

Russell Thomas, Tennessee ABC Director was party to a recent Supreme Court case. On June 26, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Tennessee’s durational residency requirement for liquor retailers in a 7-2 decision in Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers Association v. Russell F Thomas. Justice Samuel Alito declared the law unconstitutional, emphasizing its protectionist nature over public health concerns. This case began with Total Wine & More and Affluere Investments’ 2016 retail license applications. Justice Neil Gorsuch, in his dissent, cautioned against judicial overreach. For more details, check out Emma Balter’s article in Wine Spectator. The Court’s full opinion in the Russell Thomas Tennessee Wine and Spirits Retailers case can be found on FindLaw.