A federal judge ruled that the ban violates the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge John G. Heyburn said the ban should remain in place while legal issues are sorted out. Judge Heyburn said in an opinion, at the time the law was adopted, the legislature , "wanted to limit liquor sales generally... and did so by arbitrarily distinguishing grocers from all other retailers."

Judge Heybern also noted many grocery stores have a retail package liquor license which allows them to have a separate store for liquor on their grounds.

The ruling will only impact the areas in Kentucky that already allow the sale of packaged wine and spirits.

The ruling occur ed on the same day that the Governor's Task Force on the Study of Alcoholic Beverage Control Laws in Kentucky met. Gov. Steve Beshear put organized the panel of lawmakers, activists, ABC department administrators and members of the industry to study the impact of Kentucky's liquor laws, and how they could be overhauled.

Today, we'll have reaction to the possibility of liquor sells in grocery stores on WBKO at 6.