Governor Commutes All 548 Death Sentences in California to Life Imprisonment
Newsom said the move could save millions in court costs as California weighs whether to end a system that has not produced an execution since 2006.
- On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced he is commuting 548 death sentences to life without parole, clearing the state's death row for the first time since the late 19th century.
- Newsom cited his long-standing moral opposition to capital punishment, labeling the death penalty system a "failure" and noting he issued a moratorium on executions in 2019 shortly after taking office.
- Taxpayers spend more than $200 million annually on automatic appeals, while lawsuits argue "persistent and pervasive racial disparities" infect the system; Norma Chavez-Peterson called it a "failed and unjust experiment."
- While Newsom can commute about 40% of sentences unilaterally, the California Supreme Court must approve the remainder; victims' groups opposed the move, with Sandy Friend calling it "a slap in the face."
- Political consultant Mike Madrid noted the stance could create vulnerabilities for Newsom in the 2028 presidential election, though the governor's office stated the policy applies only to current sentences, not a formal repeal.
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California's governor wants to turn all death sentences in the state into prison sentences.
California governor to commute death sentences to life
California Governor Gavin Newsom said he was commuting all death sentences across the state to life imprisonment, in a move that will affect almost 550 prisoners. Newsom, who is widely expected to make a run for the White House in 2028, said capital punishment was "incompatible" with the values of the most populous state in the US. "Today I am acting on my long and deeply held conviction that individually and collectively we are stronger as a so…
Newsom's proposed death row commutations would affect Bay Area's most notorious killers
Newsom's proposed commutations would change death sentences to life without the possibility of parole for inmates, including notorious killers Cary Stayner, Richard Farley, and Richard Allen Davis.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced that he will commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The move is one of the largest clemency moves in U.S. history, but it will not be fully implemented. According to the governor’s office, 382 of the cases require approval from the California Supreme Court because they involve people convicted of more than one felony. That’s about 70 percent…
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