California gives life to ending the death penalty

In at least one regard, California Gov. Gavin Newsom did not make history Thursday in seeking to commute the death sentences of 548 people to life without the possibility of parole. A few other U.S. governors have granted universal clemencies to those facing state execution.Yet his mass commutation, once fully enforced, would be the largest in American history. It would empty out the largest death row in the Western Hemisphere, reducing the U.S. death row population by nearly 30%.And by its moral force as an act of official mercy, it might add to the steady erosion of public support for capital punishment. While Governor Newsom cited his constitutional authority in granting clemency – with the state’s highest court still yet to review some cases – he also said he acted out of personal conscience.He prays that “this action will finally separate the memories of the victims of these crimes from the fate of those who harmed them.”He has learned from speaking with victims “that each experiences their loss as the worst of the worst. “I have concluded that attempting to distinguish among crimes and offenders for clemency would inadvertently create two classes of murder victims – those whose perpetrators deserve the death penalty and then the rest.”He added that the death penalty, because of all its flaws in implementation and presumed deterrence, undermines the legal system and “diminishes each of us.”“Individually and collectively we are stronger as a society when we reject state-sanctioned killing.”In his past acts of clemency, the governor has tried to balance justice and mercy in ways that would allow people convicted of a crime to be honest about their actions and would encourage them to seek accountability and rehabilitation, even when serving a life sentence.Such mercy does not mean a full pardon. “A clemency grant does not forgive or minimize the crime and the harm it caused,” the governor’s office stated last year. California remains one of 27 states that allow the courts to impose the death penalty. But the state has not executed anyone in two decades. Deepen your worldviewwith Monitor Highlights.Politics with respectGet political stories with respectful analysis.There‘s a world of new ideas in everyBooks newsletter.There‘s more to life, enrich yours withCulture & Learning weekly.Follow humanity‘s discoveries withScience & Nature stories in your inbox.Gain a spiritual perspectivefrom the stories in your inbox.Want to understand the deeper impact of critical events? Learn the Monitor‘s insight.Already a subscriber? Log in to hide ads. With the governor now acting to clear out death row, the United States could soon see the lowest number of people sentenced for execution in 42 years.Acts of conscience often have a way of revering and saving life, not taking it. ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER? LoginReal news can be honest, hopeful, credible, constructive.The Christian Science Monitor was founded in 1908 to lift the standard of journalism and uplift humanity. We aim to “speak the truth in love.” Our goal is not to tell you what to think, but to give you the essential knowledge and understanding to come to your own intelligent conclusions. Join us in this mission by subscribing.