Governor Newsom's 2019 Moratorium Reprieved 737 Death Row Inmates, Contrasting 2016 Voter Decision

SACRAMENTO – California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order in March 2019 placing a moratorium on the death penalty, effectively granting a reprieve to the 737 inmates then on the state's death row. This significant move by the governor sparked immediate debate, particularly as it ran counter to the will of California voters who had, just three years prior, supported measures to maintain and expedite capital punishment.

The executive order, identified as N-09-19, mandated an immediate halt to all executions, withdrew the state's lethal injection protocols, and ordered the closure of the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison. Governor Newsom emphasized that the order did not commute any sentences or release any individuals from prison, but rather instituted a reprieve for the duration of his governorship. The decision was rooted in his belief that the death penalty system was "unfair, unjust, wasteful, protracted," and carried the risk of executing innocent people.

Newsom's action directly contrasted with two ballot initiatives previously decided by California voters. In 2012 and again in 2016, voters rejected propositions aimed at abolishing capital punishment. Furthermore, in 2016, voters narrowly passed Proposition 66, a measure designed to expedite the appeals process for death penalty cases. As noted by social media user Hunter Eagleman™, "2016 voters in CA overwhelmingly voted to keep the 'death penalty.' In 2019, Newsom defied his voters will and issued an executive order that all 'death row' inmates will be stayed."

Critics, including then-President Donald Trump and several state lawmakers, quickly condemned the governor's executive order, arguing that he was overriding the democratic process. Despite these objections and a subsequent legal challenge, the moratorium has remained in place. California has not carried out an execution since 2006, and the governor's order further solidified this de facto moratorium, shifting the state's stance on capital punishment.