Newsom moves to commute all California death sentences

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he is commuting all 548 death sentences in California to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, a sweeping use of executive clemency that could effectively empty the nation's largest death row.

In an open letter to Californians, Newsom said his decision reflects his longstanding opposition to capital punishment and his belief that executions are incompatible with the state's commitment to justice.

"I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency," Newsom wrote.

The announcement marks a dramatic expansion of Newsom's March 2019 moratorium on executions, which halted executions but left death sentences intact. California has not executed anyone since 2006.

The governor acknowledged that California voters have repeatedly supported retaining capital punishment, but emphasized that his action does not repeal the death penalty. Prosecutors may continue seeking death sentences, and juries and courts retain their authority to impose and uphold them.

The commutations also face a significant constitutional hurdle. Under Article V, Section 8 of the California Constitution, the governor cannot grant clemency to someone twice convicted of a felony without the recommendation of four California Supreme Court justices.

Newsom acknowledged that his decision would require the justices to participate in an extraordinary review process, potentially involving hundreds of cases.

"While I am confident this act of categorical clemency is consistent with California law, I acknowledge that my decision to exercise my constitutional clemency authority requires the Justices to participate in a weighty decision they did not choose to take up," he wrote.

Newsom also recognized the suffering of murder victims' families and acknowledged that his decision would anger some Californians.

"As Governor, I alone bear responsibility for this decision and its impact, just as I alone would bear responsibility for each execution," he wrote.