Newsom moves to commute all 548 California death sentences

What happened

Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he will commute all 548 California death sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. A governor's fact sheet says the change does not release anyone, make anyone parole-eligible, pardon anyone, or alter convictions or restitution orders. California's last execution was Jan. 17, 2006; Newsom imposed an execution moratorium in 2019.

By the numbers: The fact sheet counts 548 people under sentence of death (529 men, 19 women). It says 29 await appellate counsel and 376 people (378 cases) await appointment or funding of state habeas counsel. Since Proposition 66 passed a decade ago, only five people have been appointed counsel, with an average wait of 29 years, the sheet says. Forty-five people would be immediately subject to execution absent the moratorium.

What the process requires: The California Constitution lets the governor commute sentences, but people with two or more felony convictions need California Supreme Court approval. Newsom submitted the matter to the court. Fox News, citing local prosecutors' comments, and the AP both note the action does not repeal the death-penalty statute — only the Legislature or voters can do that.

Why it matters

California holds one of the largest condemned populations in the United States. Newsom is leaving office and is using constitutional clemency after voters twice kept the death penalty on the ballot. Prosecutors and victims' relatives say a single governor is overriding jury verdicts and ballot results; abolition advocates call it overdue.

What’s next

Watch the California Supreme Court's review for twice-convicted defendants, victim-notification work by the state, and whether other governors follow. Newsom's letter and the court submission are the primary documents.