One inmate, Doolin, spent decades on death row at San Quentin before being moved to another prison in 2025 after the governor announced reforms that would leave the facility for all but those still sentenced to death. The move is largely symbolic. California has not executed anyone since 2006, and Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in 2019. Hundreds of people had remained on death row.
Newsom, a Democrat who leads the most populous U.S. state, has been discussed as a possible 2028 presidential contender.
Officials say ending death row litigation could save millions of dollars in court costs each year.
“After nearly 30 years in public office, I have come to understand the limits of what government can justly accomplish,” Newsom said.
Newsom said California’s death penalty system is a failure by every measure, cannot be applied fairly and has convicted innocent people. Life without parole is the most severe punishment he can lawfully impose and the state can ethically enforce, he said.
In a letter he wrote that he alone bears responsibility for the decision and its impact, just as he would for each execution. He said the action will anger and hurt some Californians and will always weigh heavily on him. Newsom said he was using his constitutional clemency power because state-sanctioned killing is incompatible with California’s values, undermines the legal system and diminishes everyone.
Californians have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty, choosing to keep it for the most serious crimes, Hochman said in a statement. Romero said the commutations reflect what justice demands: an end to a racist, error-prone and inhumane punishment that has burdened California for too long.