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California Ends Death Penalty Amid Voter Roll Controversies
Confirmed
In Short: The controversy over voter rolls and the end of the death penalty highlight ongoing tensions in California's justice system.
Governor Gavin Newsom has ended California's death penalty by commuting the sentences of all 548 condemned prisoners, marking the final act of his tenure.
Newsom wrote in a statement, 'By every measure, California’s system for administering the death penalty is a failure.' This decision comes after a 2019 pledge not to oversee any executions during his governorship.
The move to end the death penalty contrasts with public sentiment, as a 2012 ballot measure to replace the death penalty with life without parole was narrowly defeated.
The Department of Justice has recently taken action against California, alleging voter fraud and demanding verification of voter citizenship.
The Justice Department has sued California, accusing the state of harboring noncitizens on its voter rolls and demanding that officials set aside mail ballots cast by alleged noncitizen voters.
What this adds
The decision to end the death penalty does not align with the majority's endorsement of capital punishment as reflected in the 2012 ballot measure.
Background
In his final act as governor, Gavin Newsom commuted the sentences of all 548 condemned California prisoners, ending the state's death penalty.
What's confirmed
- Governor Gavin Newsom has ended California's death penalty by commuting the sentences of all 548 condemned prisoners, marking the final act of his tenure.
- Newsom wrote in a statement, 'By every measure, California’s system for administering the death penalty is a failure.' This decision comes after a 2019 pledge not to oversee any executions during his governorship.
- The move to end the death penalty contrasts with public sentiment, as a 2012 ballot measure to replace the death penalty with life without parole was narrowly defeated.
- The Department of Justice has recently taken action against California, alleging voter fraud and demanding verification of voter citizenship.
- The Justice Department has sued California, accusing the state of harboring noncitizens on its voter rolls and demanding that officials set aside mail ballots cast by alleged noncitizen voters.
What's still developing
- If what determines our values is how we’ve exercised our vote and what we’ve chosen to endorse, then the death penalty appears to be an entrenched part of California’s values, at least for the majority.
Sources
- CalMatterslink
- MS NOWlink
- Orange County Registerlink
- Justthenewslink
- Thebulwarklink
- MS NOWlink
- NBC Newslink
- Mediaplaynewslink
- Actionnewsnowlink
- Femalefirstlink
- Foxsportslink
- The Hollywood Reporterlink
- Santafenewmexicanlink
- Ocregisterlink
- Warpbeatlink
- WarpBeat — background on Will Newsom’s death penalty commutations stick? link