LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said Thursday his office will continue to evaluate death penalty-eligible cases, after Gov. Gavin Newsom commuted existing death sentences to life in prison without the possibility of parole, the District Attorney's Office announced.
Read the District Attorney's release: https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/district-attorney-nathan-j-hochmans-statement-governor-newsom-s-decision-commute-death
The Commutation, The Limit, The Voters
The Governor chose to commute existing death sentences to life without the possibility of parole, as is within his constitutional power, the statement said.
That power does not extend to eliminating the death penalty, Hochman said. Only the Legislature or the voters can do that.
Californians have been asked on two separate ballot initiatives to abolish the death penalty and both times they have chosen to keep it for the most serious crimes, the statement said.
The Office's Policy, The Standard, The Families
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Until the law is changed, the office will continue to evaluate every death penalty-eligible case with the rigor, care and restraint these decisions demand, Hochman said.
The office will be guided by the facts, the law and the evidence, he said. If the Legislature or the voters remove the death penalty, the office will follow that law just as faithfully.
"Until the law is changed, my office will continue to evaluate every death penalty-eligible case with the rigor, care and restraint these decisions demand," District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman stated. "As always, we will be guided by the facts, the law and the evidence. If the Legislature or the voters remove the death penalty, we will follow that law just as faithfully."
"My thoughts today are with the families of victims, who deserve a justice system that honors the law as it is written and pursues it with fairness and due process," Hochman stated.
The commuted sentences now stand as life in prison without the possibility of parole, and the District Attorney's Office said it will continue to evaluate death penalty-eligible cases under the law as it stands.
Sources
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office, "District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman's Statement on Governor Newsom's Decision to Commute Death Sentences," November 5, 2026: https://da.lacounty.gov/media/news/district-attorney-nathan-j-hochmans-statement-governor-newsom-s-decision-commute-death