Newsom Weighs Commuting Sentences of 563 on Death Row

California Gov. Gavin Newsom is considering commuting the sentences of all 563 people on the state’s death row, according to people familiar with his deliberations, but his office says he has made no decision. The possibility has drawn renewed attention as Newsom approaches the end of his governorship, though no commutations have been announced. The discussions reportedly intensified after the failed execution of Christa Pike in Tennessee. Newsom had been weighing the possibility for months, according to people familiar with the talks. California has not carried out an execution since 2006, and Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. That order paused executions but did not reduce death sentences or prevent prosecutors from seeking them. A commutation would change a death sentence to a lesser punishment; it would not release prisoners from custody. The potential scope of any action remains unknown. The reports do not establish whether Newsom is considering a smaller group of cases or would act on all 563 sentences. California’s clemency rules could complicate a blanket action.