Newsom commuted death sentences for 548 California inmates
Why it matters: The move converts the nation’s largest death row to life without parole and could cut years of litigation costs.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state’s death row, converting the punishments to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The action affects the largest death row population in the United States. California has not carried out an execution since 2006, and Newsom had already imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. In a letter explaining the decision, he argued that the death penalty cannot be applied fairly and conflicts with the state’s values. The order drew sharp backlash from current and former prosecutors, including Los Angeles deputy district attorney Jonathan Hatami, who said victims’ families were not consulted.