A proposed Ohio law to ban liquor sales at nude dance clubs was blocked by a federal judge April 1.
"This is a major victory for freedom of expression in Ohio," said J. Michael Murray, representing several clubs challenging the proposal, to Columbus's NBC affiliate. Three Christie's Cabaret clubs - in Brunswick, Cleveland, and Youngstown - were joined by the Buckeye Association of Club Executives in arguing the new version was too broad, the affiliate said.
U.S. District Judge Ann Aldrich held the proposed rule was too broad and unconstitutional, said to be the third time in five years she ruled that way about that kind of rule.
State attorneys argued the rule's aim was stopping what they called "undesirable secondary effects" from combining liquor and adult entertainment, including drugs, prostitution, and fights. State officials have not yet decided whether to appeal, said NBC 4 Columbus.
Christie's Cabarets in Brunswick, Cleveland and Youngstown and the nonprofit Buckeye Association of Club Executives organization claimed the new version was overly broad.
State officials said they were reviewing Aldrich's order to decide whether to appeal.
