Gov. Gavin Newsom moved to commute all 548 California death sentences
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he would commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without parole. The Los Angeles Times reported that nearly 60% of the commutations require California Supreme Court approval; CalMatters said approval would make the move the largest mass commutation of death sentences in U.S. history.
More context
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he would commute the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The commutations are not all final: the California Supreme Court must approve some of them. The Los Angeles Times reported that Newsom can commute about 40% of the sentences without court approval, while nearly 60% require it. CapRadio said nearly 400 prisoners convicted of multiple felonies need approval from four of the court’s seven justices. In an open letter, Newsom said he believes state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values and undermines the foundations of its legal system. CalMatters said court approval would make the action the largest mass commutation of death sentences in U.S. history. Newsom declared a moratorium on executions in 2019.
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Reporting
- Los Angeles Times — Newsom moves to commute California death sentences to life in prison - Los Angeles Times
- CNN — Newsom commutes sentences of all California death row prisoners | CNN
- NBC News — California Gov. Gavin Newsom commutes all death sentences
- BBC News — California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death row
- CalMatters — What Newsom's commutations mean for the death penalty in the U.S. - CalMatters
- capradio.org — Gavin Newsom seeks to clear death row, commutes sentences for hundreds of prisoners
- deathpenaltyinfo.org — Governor Gavin Newsom Grants Largest Mass Commutation in U.S. History to Death-Sentenced Prisoners in California | Death Penalty Information Center
Verifier’s note
The Death Penalty Information Center, BBC News, the Los Angeles Times, CalMatters, CNN, and NBC News report Newsom’s same-day move to commute the California death-row sentences; CapRadio also reports it via a wire story. The reports support the central claim, while noting that some commutations require court approval.