Newsom clears California death row with mass commutations
Governor Gavin Newsom granted life sentences without parole to all 548 inmates, the largest clemency action in US history.
By Samantha Reed ·
Gavin Newsom commuted the sentences of every individual on California’s death row on Thursday. The 548 prisoners will serve life without the possibility of parole. This action empties the state’s largest death row and reduces the national population of death row inmates by nearly 30 percent.
Newsom cited a conflict between state executions and California values in an open letter. He argued that the practice weakens the state’s legal system. California has not executed a prisoner in 20 years. The move follows a moratorium he previously implemented.
Robin Maher, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center, noted that previous governors had granted clemency to those on state death rows, but never at this scale. She stated that the commutations fundamentally changed California’s relationship with capital punishment. Criminal justice groups described the death penalty as outdated and inefficient.
Legal challenges remain for approximately two-thirds of the commutations. State law requires California Supreme Court review for clemency involving multiple felony convictions. These reviews must conclude before the sentences become final.
The decision stands in contrast to federal policy. President Donald Trump supports executions for serious federal crimes. His administration pledged in April to broaden federal executions, including through firing squads. Critics point to costs and ethical concerns, while supporters argue the penalty deters crime.
California has spent $6 billion on capital punishment since 1978. During that period, the state carried out 13 executions. At least 203 people across the United States have been exonerated from death row since 1973. Public opinion has shifted, with a Pew Research Center poll in August showing 66 percent support for the penalty for murder convictions.
Newsom’s second and final term ends in January 2027. Xavier Becerra will succeed him as governor on January 4. The announcement follows Democratic midterm victories in Texas and Kansas.
