California Gov. Newsom says he will commute all death sentences in state to life without parole

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced on Thursday that he will commute all death sentences in the state to life in prison without the possibility of parole. This decision comes as Newsom prepares to leave office after eight years. In 2019, he implemented a moratorium on executions in the state, but hundreds of individuals remained on death row.

In a letter, Newsom stated that he believes state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of the legal system, and diminishes each person. He moved to grant clemency to 548 individuals currently sentenced to death in California, with 529 being men and 19 being women. The state constitution requires approval from the California Supreme Court for clemency in cases involving multiple felony convictions, meaning 382 of the commutations would need court approval, approximately 70%.

Newsom acknowledged that this decision was among the most challenging of his career due to the potential emotional impact on crime victims' families. He bore sole responsibility for this decision and its consequences, just as he would for any executions. The American Civil Liberties Union, which has criticized the death penalty for racial bias, applauded the announcement.

The ACLU is currently contesting California's death penalty statute, arguing that it is racially discriminatory and unconstitutional. Newsom has previously expressed his belief that it is morally wrong for the government to kill its citizens and has noted that capital punishment has disproportionately affected mentally ill individuals and people of color.