California commutes death sentences to life sentences

In California, hundreds of outstanding death sentences are to be commuted to life imprisonment. This was announced by outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom.

He will commute the sentences of the 548 inmates currently on death row in California to life imprisonment without the possibility of early release, Newsom said in a letter addressed to "all Californians." "I am taking this action because I firmly believe that state-sanctioned killing is inconsistent with California's values," it continued.

A step against Trump

California has the most death row inmates in the United States. But the state has not carried out the death penalty for 20 years, so the step is considered symbolic. In 2019, Newsom imposed a moratorium on executions in the state.

Newsom's decision is also seen as a political signal to President Donald Trump, who is an advocate of the death penalty. Newsom has long been considered the US Democratic presidential candidate. After two terms in office, he was not allowed to run for governor again.

There is always debate about the death penalty

The debate about the death penalty in the United States gained momentum again after the failed execution of death row inmate Christa Pike. The 50-year-old survived two lethal injections in Nashville, Tennessee, at the end of September. Pike was sentenced to death in 1995 for the murder of a classmate.