'Inhumane punishment': Governor Gavin Newsom to commute all 548 California death sentences
California Governor Gavin Newsom on Thursday said he would commute all 548 death sentences in the state to life in prison without parole, marking a major step away from capital punishment as he prepares to leave office after eight years.
Key points
- Gavin Newsom cites state values and flaws in the legal system as he grants largest mass clemency in US history.
Gavin Newsom, a Democrat and a rumored presidential candidate, moved to commute the death sentences of 548 inmates in California for one of his last acts as governor of the state.
California has historically had the largest population of people on death row in the US.
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Al JazeeraNovember 6, 2026, 1:39 AM UTC →
BBC WorldNovember 5, 2026, 11:09 PM UTC →
DW NewsNovember 5, 2026, 8:04 PM UTC →
France 24November 5, 2026, 7:59 PM UTC →
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