California Governor Gavin Newsom commutes all 548 state death sentences

Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday he is commuting the death sentences of every inmate on California's death row to life in prison without parole.

Governor Gavin Newsom used his constitutional clemency authority to commute the sentences of 548 people, including 529 men and 19 women. According to The Guardian, this represents the largest clearing of any death row in modern U.S. history. While the move spares current inmates from execution, CBS News noted it does not abolish the death penalty in California or prevent prosecutors from seeking it in future cases.

The governor stated in an open letter that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values and that the legal system is too imperfect to ensure justice. Newsom acknowledged the decision may cause pain for victims' families but argued that California's death penalty system has been a failure. BBC News reported that the state has not executed an inmate since 2006, though 45 people had exhausted their appeals and could have faced execution if the current moratorium were lifted.

The decision faces specific legal requirements for a majority of those affected. Deutsche Welle and France 24 reported that the California Supreme Court must approve clemency for approximately 382 of the inmates—roughly 70%—because they have more than one felony conviction. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer criticized the move, telling CBS News it overrides jury verdicts, while the ACLU praised it as an end to an inhumane and biased punishment.

The mass commutation occurs as Newsom enters his final months in office. BBC News noted that fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra is projected to succeed him following Tuesday's midterm elections. The Guardian and Deutsche Welle both reported that the announcement follows the failed execution of Christa Pike, which has renewed scrutiny of capital punishment.

Background

Governor Newsom previously issued a moratorium on executions in 2019 and dismantled the execution chamber at San Quentin prison. Although California has the largest death row population in the western hemisphere, only 13 inmates have been executed since 1978, and voters have repeatedly rejected ballot measures to abolish the practice, most recently in 2016.