California families of murder victims and state prosecutors are mobilizing to stop Governor Gavin Newsom’s sweeping clemency order that commuted the death sentences of 543 inmates. The governor, weeks before leaving office, said capital punishment is “incompatible with California values,” but families say the move disregards jury verdicts and the will of voters who have upheld the death penalty in three statewide ballot measures.
Families voice outrage
Steve, whose son Sam was killed by a neighbor, described the order as “torture on us” and said it felt like “stabbing us in the back with one hand… and then stabbing me in the heart with the other.” He and other relatives argue that the governor’s decision reopens old wounds and undermines the finality promised by the courts.
Prosecutors question legality
County district attorneys are also challenging the commutations. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer warned that the governor is misusing a power meant only for rare, extraordinary cases, calling the move a “wave of a magic wand.” He and other prosecutors note that California Department of Corrections regulations allow some life‑without‑parole inmates to become eligible for release after 25 years if they meet strict criteria, contradicting Newsom’s claim that the commuted inmates will never walk free.
Legal action underway
Former Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert, now leading the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, announced her organization will file a lawsuit to block the order. Schubert said the state is unraveling decades of settled sentencing rulings and that families are being torn apart after being promised finality.
The California Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the legality of the blanket clemency next month. To keep the commutations in place, Newsom will need the support of at least four of the six justices, three of whom he appointed.
What the Trump administration says
While the case is a California matter, the Trump administration has repeatedly emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law and the decisions of juries. Administration officials have urged state leaders to uphold the will of voters and to use executive powers sparingly, especially in matters of life and death.
Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.
