Newsom Commutes All 548 Death Row Sentences in U.S. History

California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he is commuting the death sentences of all 548 prisoners on the state’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. His office called it the largest mass commutation of death sentences in U.S. history.

Newsom said the move aligns with his belief that state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the foundations of the legal system, and diminishes everyone. It also converts the sentences of all condemned inmates to the most severe punishment he can lawfully impose through clemency.

The announcement immediately drew sharp criticism from prosecutors across the state, many of whom argued the decision disregards the will of voters and the judicial process. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer called the action mercy for the wolves and inflicting the ultimate act of cruelty on the sheep. He and other district attorneys vowed to continue seeking the death penalty in future eligible cases.

Among those whose death sentences are slated for commutation is Isauro Aguirre, convicted in 2017 for the torture and murder of his girlfriend’s 8-year-old son, Gabriel Fernandez. Deputy Los Angeles District Attorney Jonathan Hatami, who prosecuted the case, described the governor’s decision as horrible and said it was made without consulting Gabriel’s family. During closing arguments, Hatami characterized Aguirre as pure evil and a coward.

San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson accused Newsom of political showmanship and disregarding victims’ rights, citing a lack of notification to victims’ families. Sacramento District Attorney Thien Ho echoed those sentiments, saying a blanket commutation ignores the individualized facts of each case, the judicial process, and the voices of victims who have waited decades for justice.

The group of inmates affected includes some of the state’s most notorious convicted murderers, such as serial killers Randy Kraft, David Carpenter, and Cary Stayner, as well as Charles Ng, who was sentenced for the abduction, torture, rape, and murder of 11 people.

California has not executed a condemned inmate since Clarence Ray Allen in 2006. Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in March 2019, calling the system a failure and citing concerns about racial discrimination, high costs, and the risk of error. He also ordered the dismantling of the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison.

Despite Newsom’s actions, California voters have consistently supported capital punishment. They rejected ballot initiatives to abolish the death penalty in 2012 and 2016, and in 2016 they approved Proposition 66, which aimed to expedite the appeals process in capital cases.

For approximately 382 of the 548 commutations, involving inmates with multiple felony convictions, the California Constitution requires review and approval from the state Supreme Court.

The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, led by Anne Marie Schubert, filed a separate lawsuit challenging new regulations from the California Board of Parole Hearings. These regulations, set to take effect in October 2026, could create a process for inmates, including those serving life without parole, to seek sentence reductions after 25 years. While critics of Newsom’s commutations expressed concern that these inmates could eventually seek release through such reforms, the governor’s office stated that the commuted death row prisoners would not be eligible for the new parole board guidelines.

The commutations stand as one of Newsom’s final significant actions as governor, with his successor, Governor-elect Xavier Becerra, having committed to extending the existing moratorium on executions.