US | gays Calif. Judge: Gay Marriage Decision My Toughest Conservative cast vote for 'doing the right thing' By Kate Rockwood Posted May 18, 2008 12:05 PM CDT Copied California Supreme Court Justices from top left: Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, Carlos R. Moreno, Joyce L. Kennard, Marvin Baxter; from lower left: Ming Chin, Chief Justice Ronald M. George, Carol Corrigan. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) Long characterized as cautious, California’s Chief Justice Ronald George shocked his peers when he joined the majority to overturn the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. “I think there are times when doing the right thing means not playing it safe,” the moderate Republican said, calling the case the most difficult one of his 17 years on the court. George likened same-sex restrictions to earlier bans on interracial marriage, recounting to the Los Angeles Times a childhood trip to the South in which he saw “No Negro” and “No colored” signs. "When is it that a court should act?" he asked. "When is it that a court is shirking its responsibility by not acting, and when is a court overreaching? That's a real conundrum." Read These Next BBC apologizes after racial slur heard at BAFTAs. FBI chief Kash Patel showed up in the Team USA hockey locker room. A sneaker brand is suing Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. Trump threatens Netflix: Remove Democrat from board or else. Report an error