Governor Newsom commutes all California death sentences to life without parole

Governor Gavin Newsom announced he will commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates on California's death row, reducing their punishments to life in prison without the possibility of parole, KTLA 5 reported.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Newsom can unilaterally commute about 40% of these sentences, while the remaining require approval from the California Supreme Court to be finalized. This action affects inmates convicted of some of the most serious crimes in the state’s history.

Newsom stated that state-sanctioned killing conflicts with California’s values and undermines the legal system, emphasizing concerns about the death penalty’s cost, cruelty, and racial disparities in sentencing, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.

The move is largely symbolic since California has not executed a prisoner since 2006, but experts note it could save millions annually in court costs. The state’s electorate reaffirmed support for capital punishment in a 2016 ballot initiative, though its popularity has declined since.

This decision comes in Newsom’s final months as governor and amid speculation about a presidential run, potentially appealing to liberal Democratic voters but possibly affecting his standing with a broader national electorate.