Newsom says he will commute all 548 of California's death sentences to life without parole
Summary
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he will commute the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life in prison without parole. The state constitution requires California Supreme Court approval for clemency for people convicted of a felony more than once.Key Facts
- Newsom announced the decision on Thursday as he prepares to leave office after eight years.
- California had 548 people on death row at the time of the announcement.
- Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019.
- Newsom said he believes the death penalty conflicts with California’s values and undermines the legal system.
- Newsom said he recognized that the decision could bring painful memories for victims’ families.
- The ACLU praised the announcement and said the death penalty is racially biased and prone to error.
- The ACLU is challenging California’s death penalty law in court, alleging that it is racially discriminatory and unconstitutional.
- California voters rejected a 2016 ballot measure that would have repealed the death penalty.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
