By Basant El-Faramawy
California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he will commute the death sentences of all 548 inmates on the state's death row to life in prison without parole. The decision comes as Newsom prepares to conclude his eight-year tenure as governor.
Moratorium and Clemency Process
Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019, but hundreds of condemned inmates remained on death row. Under the state constitution, clemency for those convicted of multiple felonies requires approval from the California Supreme Court. Newsom said the decision was among his hardest as governor, acknowledging it would revive painful memories for victims' families.
Personal Responsibility
"I take this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California's values, undermines the foundations of our legal system, and diminishes each of us," Newsom wrote in a letter. He added that as governor, he alone bears responsibility for the decision and its impact, just as he would for each execution.
