<b>Making history</b>

Same-sex marriage: George wrote the 6-1 decision in May 2009 to uphold Proposition 8, rejecting an argument that same-sex marriage could not be abolished by a constitutional amendment. A federal appeals court is now considering a challenge to the 2008 ballot measure.

Same-sex marriage: George was the tie-breaker in the 4-3 decision in May 2008 to overturn a ban on same-sex marriage as a violation of the state Constitution. The decision, written by George, was a bold surprise from the Republican-dominated court.

Abortion parental consent: In one of his most contentious rulings, George wrote the 4-3 decision in August 1997 that overturned a state law requiring girls under 18 to obtain consent from a parent or a judge to have an abortion. George said the 1987 law violated privacy rights guaranteed by the state Constitution.

Workplace drug testing: George wrote the 5-2 decision in January 1997 that governments can screen job applicants for drugs and alcohol but may not require blanket testing as a condition of promotion. The landmark ruling was the state high court’s first decision on the constitutionality of workplace drug testing.

Source: Times reporting