Former independent counsel Kenneth Starr will help California vintners fight bans on wine shipments to consumers in other states.
The Coalition for Free Trade wants Starr to argue that shipments should be allowed in 26 states that outlaw direct-to-consumer sales. The coalition is backed by Family Winemakers of California, a trade group of small to medium sized vintners.
Federal district courts in four states have struck down bans on wine shipments, and the cases are pending at the appellate level. The likely next stop is the US Supreme Court.
The wine industry says it tapped Starr, a former U.S. solicitor general, because he has experience in arguing cases before the high court.
Starr is best known for investigating President Clinton´s Whitewater real estate dealings and Clinton´s relationship with intern Monica Lewinsky.
This post was last modified on 01/31/2009 4:47 pm