California governor seeks to commute all 548 death row sentences to life without parole

Summary

California Governor Newsom says he will commute every death sentence in the state to life without the possibility of parole, affecting 548 death row inmates. Newsom said that "capital punishment is morally wrong" and that he wants to end state-sanctioned killing. The state Supreme Court will have the final say in hundreds of those cases, so the outcome depends on its approval.

Timeline

1. ABC

   6 Nov 2026, 00:49 UTCSource ↗

   ABC reports that the California governor will grant clemency to all 548 death row inmates in the state, with the fate of hundreds of them hinging on the Supreme Court's approval, after the governor said he wants to end state-sanctioned killing.

2. France 24

   6 Nov 2026, 14:54 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Governor Newsom announced on Thursday that he will commute all death sentences in the state to life without the possibility of parole, saying that "capital punishment is morally wrong," and that the state Supreme Court will have the final say in hundreds of those cases.