Snellville likely to fight judge's alcohol ruling

Snellville city leaders will hold a news conference Tuesday to announce how they plan to proceed after a Gwinnett County judge closed the tap on Sunday alcohol sales.

Mayor Jerry Oberholtzer confirmed receiving Magistrate Judge Mark A. Lewis' final order Monday afternoon. The mayor would not reveal how the city would respond, but leaders have suggested they plan to appeal the judge's decision.

The news conference will be at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

In his ruling last week, Judge Lewis overturned the City Council's Dec. 14 decision to approve Sunday sales by council vote, rather than referendum. The judge also invalidated the seven licenses the city already had handed out as a result of what he called an "illegally passed ordinance."

"It ain't over," Oberholtzer has said. "The eyes of the state are upon us again."