There were not a lot of high-profile decisions from the state Supreme Court in 2006, but a few stood out. For one thing, sexually charged humor turned out to be as appropriate behind the scenes of “Friends” as it was on-camera.


She sided with him in 10 of the 16 cases in which she participated that were decided 5-2 or 4-3, while her predecessor, Brown, backed George only six times in the 25 opinions that split that way during her last year-and-a-half on the court.

That makes Corrigan a centrist in George’s vein. It may not have much impact on a mostly Republican court that is friendly with traditionally liberal issues such as civil rights and the environment, but it’s enough to give George more sway over the bench.

“When the court splits 4-3,” Uelmen said, “the determinative vote is normally George’s. Whichever way he goes, that’s the way it’ll turn out.”

That observation is borne out by the fact that George was on the prevailing side of all nine cases decided by a 4-3 vote in 2006. In addition, he was on the winning side in eight of the 10 cases decided 5-2.

Among the 4-3 cases Corrigan helped George win are:

People v. Wells, 38 Cal.4th 1078, which permits limited traffic stops when someone phones in a tip that a driver might be drunk.

Big Creek Lumber Co. v. County of Santa Cruz, 38 Cal.4th 1139, which said county zoning ordinances pertaining to timber operations aren’t preempted by state forestry statutes.

Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians v. Superior Court (Fair Political Practices Commission), 06 C.D.O.S. 11719, which held that states’ right to regulate their political process trumps Indian tribes’ sovereign immunity from lawsuits.

Not Many Death Row Opinions

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