Federal Judge Hears Arguments Over Oklahoma Wine Law

Monday, September 18th 2006, 6:01 am

By: News On 6

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Liquor wholesalers who object to a state statute allowing winemakers to sell their products directly to liquor stores and restaurants asked a federal judge Monday to throw out the voter-approved law.

Robert McCampbell, an attorney for three state wholesalers, said the law puts out-of-state wine producers at an unconstitutional disadvantage compared to in-state producers.

Sherry Todd, an assistant Oklahoma attorney general, said the law should be preserved. She said some small Oklahoma winemakers would be forced out of business if the law were invalidated.

U.S. District Judge Stephen Friot, who heard the arguments at the University of Oklahoma College of Law in Norman, will consider the arguments. He made no immediate ruling.