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Gavin Newsom spares every murderer on California’s death row in one of his final acts as Governor
Developing story first seen 3 hours ago
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.
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In short
- 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.
How this story developed
- 5 minutes ago California Governor Gavin Newsom says he is commuting the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life imprisonment without parole. The decision reflects his long-standing opposition to capital punishment and comes as he prepares to leave office after eight years.
- 13 minutes ago 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.
Where outlets differ
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- Gavin Newsom spares every murderer on California’s death row in one of his final acts as GovernorDaily Mail
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The case for
Commuting the sentences would uphold the view that the state should not take life, especially where punishment is irreversible and errors or unequal application may be impossible to remedy. Life imprisonment without parole still imposes severe punishment, while removing the prospect of executions may reflect greater respect for human dignity and avoid prolonging families’ distress through decades of uncertainty.
The case against
Those who support retaining the death penalty can argue that it is a proportionate punishment for the gravest murders and that voters have repeatedly had the opportunity to reject abolition. Commuting every sentence in one decision may also set aside distinctions among cases and victims’ families’ wishes, while raising questions about a governor’s authority where court approval is required.
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