Newsom to Commute All California Death Sentences

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says he will commute the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. In an open letter, Newsom described the decision as the culmination of his long-standing opposition to executions, arguing that state-sanctioned killing conflicts with California’s values, weakens the legal system and diminishes society. He imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019 but says that leaving the sentences in place was insufficient. California has not executed a prisoner since 2006. The commutations would not repeal the state’s death penalty, which remains in law. They also require approval from the California Supreme Court for people convicted of more than one felony; according to Newsom’s office, that applies to 382 inmates. Newsom said clemency is appropriate when the law as applied cannot be reconciled with justice, while acknowledging the limits of his action and its potential effects on victims’ families. The legislature and voters would have to repeal the death penalty. The announcement drew sharply differing responses. California’s Public Defenders Association welcomed it, citing arbitrariness in death sentences and disparities associated with race and county-level prosecutorial decisions. The California District Attorneys Association had warned that commuting every sentence without reviewing individual cases would disregard juries’ decisions and cause further anguish for victims’ families. The American Civil Liberties Union also praised the move, describing capital punishment as racist, error-prone and inhumane, and continues to challenge the state’s death penalty law in court. The article situates Newsom’s decision within renewed national debate following a failed execution attempt in Tennessee and controversy over a proposed execution by firing squad of Nidal Hasan. It also notes speculation about Newsom’s political future and his earlier effort to transform San Quentin prison into a rehabilitation and job-training facility.

California Governor Gavin Newsom says he will commute every death sentence in the state to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. His announcement affects 548 people on death row, although California’s constitution requires state Supreme Court approval for clemency for people convicted of a felony more than once. Newsom’s office says that requirement applies to 382 of the commutations, about 70% of the total, so those decisions need the court’s approval. Newsom said he opposes the death penalty and described state-sanctioned killing as incompatible with California’s values and harmful to the legal system. He had already imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. He called the commutation decision one of the most difficult of his career, acknowledging that it could bring painful memories to victims’ families and taking personal responsibility for its consequences. He also noted that voters rejected a 2016 ballot measure to abolish the death penalty, with 53% voting against it, while arguing that the governor’s constitutional clemency power exists for cases in which law and justice cannot be reconciled. The article says the announcement followed renewed scrutiny of capital punishment after the failed execution of Christa Pike. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed Newsom’s decision. Its executive director, Anthony Romero, characterized the death penalty as racist, error-prone and inhumane. The article also cites Amnesty International figures stating that at least 2,707 executions were carried out in 17 countries in 2025. Newsom, whose term ends in January 2027 and who is rumored to be considering a 2028 presidential run, framed the decision as an exercise of his clemency authority.

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that he will commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. The decision is a significant move away from capital punishment and comes as Newsom prepares to leave office after eight years. He previously imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019, though hundreds of people remained on death row. In a letter explaining his decision, Newsom said state-sanctioned killing conflicts with California’s values, weakens the foundations of its legal system, and diminishes society. He also acknowledged the decision’s impact on crime victims’ families, describing it as among the most difficult choices of his career. Newsom said he alone accepts responsibility for the decision, just as he would have borne responsibility for any execution carried out under his governorship. The article notes that California voters rejected a 2016 ballot measure that would have repealed the death penalty. It also explains that, under the state constitution, approval by the California Supreme Court is required to grant clemency to someone convicted of a felony more than once. The American Civil Liberties Union welcomed the announcement. Its executive director, Anthony Romero, characterized the death penalty as racist, error-prone, and inhumane, and said the commutations answer the demands of justice. The article presents the announcement as a major policy change while noting both its legal context and the concerns it raises for victims’ families.