Memphis – from www.commercialappeal.com – The U.S. Supreme Court announced today that it won’t hear an appeal from strip clubs protesting a new set of strict regulations imposed by the Shelby County government.

The case “Entertainment Productions Inc. et al v. Shelby County et al,” was included in a long list of denied appeals posted on the high court’s website.

The court’s ruling will likely make it easier for the county to begin enforcing a new regulatory system that would ban alcohol from the clubs and would require all workers to be registered.

Adult bookstores and other sex-related businesses would also have to follow the rules.

The County Commission approved the changes in September 2007, but pending lawsuits have prevented the government from enforcing them.

Strip club owners have argued that the rules are meant to put them out of business.

However U.S. District Judge Bernice Donald decided last year that the county’s regulations are constitutional, because courts have upheld rules that aim to reduce crime and other negative side effects of adult businesses, without attacking the right to free expression.

It’s not clear that the battle over the rules is over.

Edward Bearman, a Memphis lawyer for the strip clubs, said last month that his side would continue its legal fight even if the Supreme Court refused to hear the case.