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California DAs slam Newsom for commuting 548 death row sentences now
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the commutation of sentences for 548 death row inmates to life imprisonment without parole, citing the death penalty as incompatible with the state's values and legal principles.
- The decision has sparked strong backlash from district attorneys, law enforcement unions, and victim advocates who argue it disregards the justice system, the work of prosecutors, and the pain of victims' families.
- Critics, including San Luis Obispo County DA Dan Dow and Orange County DA Todd Spitzer, emphasized that the death penalty has been upheld by California voters and defended the integrity of the legal process leading to death sentences.
- Newsom had previously imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019, and California has not executed anyone since 2006; his latest action reflects his longstanding opposition to capital punishment.
- The commutations include inmates convicted of high-profile violent crimes, with some officials expressing outrage that victims' families were not consulted before the announcement.
