Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has voiced concerns that Gov. Gavin Newsom’s decision to commute the sentences of 548 California death row inmates could ultimately provide convicted murderers with a route to freedom. Hochman pointed to the resentencing of the Menendez brothers as a precedent, suggesting that life without parole does not always guarantee inmates will remain incarcerated for life.
In an interview with the California Post, Hochman argued that Newsom's assurance that these inmates will "die in prison" cannot be made with certainty. He highlighted the case of Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted of their parents' 1989 murders. Though initially sentenced to life without parole, their sentences were later reduced to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole because they were under 26 at the time of the crime. Hochman, who inherited the case after taking office in December 2024, opposed the reduction.
Newsom announced Thursday his commutation of all death sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole, extending his long-standing opposition to capital punishment. The governor cited the imperfections of the justice system and moral grounds for his decision, stating, "I know we cannot execute people in our imperfect legal system and remain true to our core values, first among them justice and human decency."
Hochman questioned the timing and scope of the decision, suggesting it was made late in Newsom's term. He noted that more than 100 cases affected by the commutation are in Los Angeles County. Hochman also expressed concern for victims' families, stating that the decision, made without consulting them, forces them to relive their trauma and introduces renewed uncertainty.
Victims' families have echoed these sentiments. Sandy Friend, whose son was murdered in 1996, called the commutation "total disrespect for the victims." Phyllis Loya, whose son was a police officer killed in the line of duty, accused Newsom of showing more concern for convicted killers than for their victims.
The governor's action faces a legal challenge, as the California Supreme Court must approve commutations for inmates with multiple felony convictions. California has not carried out an execution since 2006, and Newsom's move does not abolish the death penalty.
Hochman confirmed that his office continues to review death penalty-eligible cases. While his office cannot overturn Newsom's clemency decisions, he vowed to intervene if any affected inmates seek release through parole hearings in the future. "If these cases come back into court, in other words, if they’re able to somehow seek parole at some point in the future, our office will get very involved with that," Hochman stated.