# Gavin Newsom spares every murderer on California’s death row in one of his final acts as Governor

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/gavin-newsom-spares-every-murderer-on-californias-death-row-in-one-of-his-final-acts-as-governor/
- Published: 2026-11-05T22:11:29+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-05T22:19:50+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16269637/gavin-newsom-california-death-row-commutation.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: World

## Key points

- Court approval is needed for 382 of the planned commutations.
- Newsom proposes life without parole for all 548 prisoners.
- The governor says executions conflict with justice and human decency.

## Summary

New reporting says the legality of Gavin Newsom’s plan to commute all 548 California death row sentences remains uncertain, as state Supreme Court approval is required for many of them. The decision would reduce each sentence to life in prison without parole and marks a major use of clemency by the governor as he prepares to leave office.

Newsom’s office says 382 prisoners, about 70 per cent of those affected, have multiple felony convictions and therefore need the court’s approval. Newsom has long opposed capital punishment, saying the state cannot morally execute people within an imperfect legal system, while acknowledging the suffering of victims’ families. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says the governor can commute sentences but cannot abolish the death penalty, which voters have retained in two ballot decisions.

## Coverage

- [Daily Mail: Gavin Newsom spares every murderer on California’s death row in one of his final acts as Governor](https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16269637/gavin-newsom-california-death-row-commutation.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490)
- [CNA: California governor says commuting all death sentences in state](https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/california-death-row-life-imprisonment-newsom-6529036)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.