In the 1953 case of County Board of Arlington County et al. v. State Milk Commission, the U.S Supreme Court dealt with a dispute over milk price regulation in Virginia. The State Milk Commission had established minimum retail prices for milk sold within certain defined marketing areas, which included Arlington County and Fairfax County among others. However, these counties objected to this regulation arguing that it violated their rights under the Fourteenth Amendment's Equal Protection Clause as they were being treated differently from other counties not included in those marketing areas. The Supreme Court ruled against the county boards stating that there was no violation of equal protection because all parties involved in a particular market area were treated equally by regulations set forth by the state commission. The court also noted that such regulatory measures are often necessary to maintain stability and fairness within specific markets or industries like dairy farming where conditions can vary greatly between different geographical regions.

In the dissenting opinion for the County Board of Arlington County et al. v. State Milk Commission case, it was argued that the majority's decision to uphold Virginia's milk regulation scheme violated principles of federalism and economic liberty. The dissenters believed that this regulatory system interfered with interstate commerce by allowing a state agency to control prices and restrict competition in an industry that operated across state lines. They also contended that such regulations were not necessary for public health or safety, but rather served to protect local dairy farmers from out-of-state competitors at consumers' expense. Furthermore, they asserted these restrictions on trade contradicted constitutional guarantees of individual freedom and free enterprise by limiting consumer choice and stifling innovation within the dairy industry.