Newsom to commute 548 death sentences to life without parole
The move requires Supreme Court approval for 382 cases and arrives months before the governor's term ends.
By Chioma Kuznetsov ·
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced he will commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates currently on the state's death row to life in prison with no possibility of parole.
Newsom stated in an open letter that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values and undermines the legal system. He described the decision as the most difficult of his career and said it follows three decades of opposing executions. Although he issued a moratorium on executions in 2019, he argued that leaving the sentences intact was insufficient.
The state holds the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere. California last executed a prisoner in 2006 under then-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Newsom noted that his term as governor ends in a few months, a period during which speculation has grown that he may run for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2028.
The clemency process faces a legal hurdle under the state constitution. Because the governor has granted clemency to some of these felons before, the California Supreme Court must approve 382 of the commutations, roughly 70 percent of the total. Newsom acknowledged that his action does not repeal the death penalty, a power that rests with the legislature and voters. He said he is using his clemency authority for a moment when the law as applied cannot be squared with justice.
Reaction to the decision has been mixed. The California District Attorneys Association sent a letter expressing grave concerns, warning that the sweeping action would inflict additional anguish on victims' families. Association President Jeannine M. Pacioni called the move a profound disservice to justice, arguing that each sentence was the result of a jury weighing specific evidence and circumstances.
Newsom wrote that he recognizes the decision will surface painful memories for those affected by crime. He stated that as governor, he alone bears responsibility for the decision and its impact, just as he would have borne responsibility for each execution. He added that he views the current moment as the right time for this action.
The American Civil Liberties Union applauded the announcement. Executive director Anthony Romero said in a statement that the commutations reflect what justice demands, ending a punishment he described as racist, error-prone, and inhumane. The ACLU is currently challenging California's death penalty statute in court, alleging it is racially discriminatory and unconstitutional. In 2023, Newsom announced plans to transform San Quentin prison into a rehabilitation center, a project that was completed earlier this year.
The national debate over capital punishment has intensified recently. Tennessee's execution of Christa Pike failed on September 30 when she survived two attempts to be injected with lethal drugs. She was hospitalized and returned to prison on October 10. Separately, U.S. War Secretary Pete Hegseth initially planned to livestream the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who was convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting. President Donald Trump later ruled out the livestream, but Hasan remains scheduled for execution on December 3.
