⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

Real court arguments, crisp audio, with context.

Court recordings can be difficult to follow, and many suffer from poor audio quality. This podcast enhances the audio, provides a brief introduction to each case, and explains legal concepts that may be unfamiliar to some listeners.

We hope these enhancements make oral argument recordings easier to understand, more accessible, and more enjoyable to listen to.

Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube /feed.xml Open RSS

Timothy Freehan v. Cynthia Berg — 7th Cir. (Sep 17, 2026)

No. 25-2967 Argued September 17, 2026 Published September 21, 2026

The Seventh Circuit hears a challenge to Illinois's wine-shipping rules. Timothy Freehan and Joseph Grody are Illinois wine collectors who say rare bottles they want are unavailable from local retailers. Full Pull Wines is a licensed Seattle retailer that wants to sell directly to Illinois customers. Illinois allows licensed in-state retailers to ship wine statewide, but a retailer must have an Illinois store to obtain that license. The collectors and Full Pull sued the state's liquor-control commissioners. The district court ruled for the state at summary judgment. It found the three-tier system justified by inspections, tax and price controls, temperance, and enforcement against underage sales, and found no easy nondiscriminatory alternative. The appeal asks whether the rule discriminates against interstate commerce, whether Illinois proved a legitimate alcohol-regulation justification, and whether a separate distributor rule means the plaintiffs lack standing.

Timothy Freehan v. Cynthia Berg (No. 25-2967) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, argued September 17, 2026.

Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/sound/external/nv.25-2967.25-2967_09_17_2026.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit:https://media.ca7.uscourts.gov/oralArguments/oar.jsp?amonth=09%2F2026&aMonth=List+case%28s%29
District court opinion — copy hosted by Alcohol Law Review:https://www.alcohollawreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Freehan-MSJ-Decision.pdf
Illinois Liquor Control Commission meeting minutes:https://ilcc.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/ilcc/commission-meeting-items/meeting-minutes/2025/ILCC%20-%20Commission%20Minutes%20-%20Open%20Meeting%20Minutes%20-%20November%2019,%202025.pdf
Filed complaint — copy hosted by the National Association of Wine Retailers:https://nawr.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IL-Freehan-v-Berg-Complaint.pdf
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca7/25-2967
James A. Tanford — Indiana University Maurer School of Law:https://www.law.indiana.edu/about/people/details?name=tanford-j-alexander
James A. Tanford curriculum vitae — Indiana University:https://law.indiana.edu/about/people/cv/tanford-j-alexander.pdf
James A. Tanford counsel identification — Supreme Court filing:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/22/22-285/238673/20220923151019348_X-NC_Cert_03.pdf
R. Sam Horan identification — Supreme Court filing:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-541/390959/20260106180712233_Schoenthal%20extension%20request.pdf
Tennessee Wine & Spirits Retailers Association v. Thomas — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/18pdf/18-96_5i36.pdf
Granholm v. Heald — U.S. Reports via GovInfo:https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USREPORTS-544/pdf/USREPORTS-544-460.pdf

0:00
0:00