California governor commutes sentences of state's 548 death row inmates

California Governor Gavin Newsom has commuted the death sentences of all 548 people on the state's death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole. He cited his constitutional clemency power and said capital punishment conflicts with California's values and cannot be administered fairly. The move is largely symbolic because the state has not executed anyone since 2006, though experts say it could save millions of dollars in court costs annually. Newsom, who halted executions in 2019, is nearing the end of his term; fellow Democrat Xavier Becerra is projected to succeed him.