California Governor Newsom announces commutation of all 548 death sentences to life without parole

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a commutation of all death sentences in the state on Thursday, 5 November 2026. The announcement covers 548 people on California's death row. The replacement sentence is life in prison without the possibility of parole.

Newsom made the announcement in a letter addressed to all Californians. "I will therefore issue the same commutation to every condemned person - life without the possibility of parole, the most severe punishment I can lawfully impose and the state of California can ethically enforce. These offenders will die in prison but not by our hand," he wrote, as quoted by Daily Sabah.

At least some of the commutations require California Supreme Court approval. The state constitution requires the court's approval to grant clemency to anyone convicted of a felony more than once.

Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. California has not carried out an execution for about two decades, and the BBC gives 2006 as the year of the last one. Voters rejected a ballot measure to abolish the death penalty in 2016. Newsom is in the final period of his time in office and cannot seek another term as governor.

The announcement follows the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee in September.

California has the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere, according to Reuters and the South China Morning Post.

What is disputed

• Status: The BBC says Newsom has commuted the sentences. Other outlets, including Reuters and AP, say he will or would do so. The reports do not establish whether the commutations have been formally issued or when they would take effect.
• Court approval: DW says 382 cases, roughly 70%, need approval, citing numbers from Newsom's office. The BBC, citing CalMatters, says at least four of the seven judges must sign off on "the commutations" and does not specify a subset.

What each side says

Newsom wrote that "state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us", according to DW. He also said the decision will anger and hurt some Californians.

DW quoted Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, as saying: "These commutations reflect what justice demands: an end to a racist, error-prone, and inhumane punishment that has burdened California for far too long."

Nathan Hochman, the top prosecutor in Los Angeles County, says Newsom can commute sentences, but only the legislature or voters can eliminate the death penalty. "Californians have been asked on two separate ballot initiatives to abolish the death penalty and both times they have chosen to keep it for the most serious crimes," he said in a statement quoted by the BBC.

The reports do not include reactions from victims' families, a timeline for the court's review or a response from the court.

Analysis

The California Supreme Court's role is the main open question. Its review could determine how many of the commutations are carried out, and the reports do not describe what would happen to inmates if approval were denied. The dispute also raises a broader question about the balance between a governor's clemency power and voters' decisions at the ballot box. The BBC calls the decision largely symbolic because of the long pause in executions, while unnamed experts say it could save millions of dollars in court costs each year. The basis for that estimate is not given.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.