A sweeping act of clemency in the final months of a term
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that he is commuting the sentences of 548 people condemned to death in the state, replacing them with life imprisonment. In a letter, he said the move would let these offenders die in obscurity while the victims are remembered and honored forever. The decision to spare the lives of those on death row is largely symbolic in a state that has not executed an inmate since 2006, although experts say it could save millions of dollars in court costs every year.[S1][S2][S3][S4][S5][S6][S7][S8]
Only 13 prisoners have been put to death since voters approved restoring capital punishment in the state in 1978. The announcement comes at a moment when Newsom, the Democratic leader of the most populous US state, is being discussed as a possible presidential contender in 2028. Newsom, whose term is about to end, is using his last months in office. He will be succeeded by fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra, who won the race in Tuesday's midterm elections.[S1]
A constitutional power and a moral argument
In his letter, Newsom explained that he is exercising his constitutional clemency authority to convert death sentences into life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. After nearly 30 years in public service, he said, he has come to understand the limits of what government can achieve through justice. He said he is taking this step because he firmly believes that state-sanctioned murder is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of the legal system and diminishes everyone.[S1]
California has historically had the largest population of inmates on death row. Newsom had already ordered a suspension of capital punishment in the state in 2019. He described his decision as a difficult but fair action, saying that while many Californians believe those who commit brutal crimes deserve to die, he has concluded that the state cannot morally kill them. He argued that by every measure California's system for administering the death penalty is a failure and has not been applied, and cannot be applied, fairly, which has led to innocent people being condemned. In his view, life without parole is the harshest punishment the state can legally impose and ethically carry out.[S1]
