Newsom announces commutations for California’s 548 death sentences

California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Thursday that he would commute the death sentences of all 548 people on the state’s death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The group includes 529 men and 19 women, according to figures from his office. The announced commutations do not all take effect automatically: some require approval from the California Supreme Court. Newsom said in a letter that he was acting because he believes state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values and justice. He also said the decision could bring painful memories for victims’ families. The governor has opposed capital punishment for decades and issued a moratorium on executions in 2019. The number of cases requiring court approval is not consistently reported. Newsom’s office put the figure at 382, while another account described nearly 60 cases. The approval requirement applies to prisoners convicted of multiple felonies. Four of the court’s seven justices must approve a request, according to attorney Natasha Minsker, an opponent of the death penalty. Minsker said the court has no deadline to decide. Requests not approved before Newsom leaves office on January...