California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 548 people on death row

Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by mftrhu on Thursday November 05, 2026 @04:53PM (#50384999)

The taxpayers. Same as they ever did, because sentencing someone to death doesn't mean they just die - they appeal, and appeal, and appeal again, and they should be able to do so because their own death is on the line, sometimes on shaky ground.

> The decision to spare death row inmates is largely symbolic in a state that has not executed an inmate since 2006, though experts say it could save millions of dollars in court costs each year. Only 13 inmates have been executed since voters reinstated the death penalty in 1978.

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Re:California Gov Newsom commutes death sentences for all 54... by saxonww on Thursday November 05, 2026 @05:23PM (#50385347)

I'm for keeping capital punishment as an option, but it's clear to me that adjudicating it does cost more than life w/o parole.

Virtually all cases involving death penalty have a jury trial, higher stakes == higher priced lawyers, there are built-in automatic appeals, there are actually two separate trials for guilt and application of death penalty vs. one trial with a sentencing phase, etc.

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