Two weeks after Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a moratorium on executions, two justices on the state’s highest court called California’s death penalty “an expensive and dysfunctional system” that delivers neither justice nor timely closure.
California Supreme Court Associate Justice Goodwin Liu, shown in 2017, argued in a decision Thursday that the state's death penalty system is dysfunctional, expensive and doesn't deliver justice in a timely way. , two justices on the state’s highest court called California’s death penalty “an expensive and dysfunctional system” that delivers neither justice nor timely closure.
Justice Goodwin Liu, joined by Justice Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar, both appointed by former Gov. Jerry Brown, reiterated the evidence Newsom cited when he announced the moratorium.“A death sentence in California has only a remote possibility of ever being carried out,” he said. “As leaders of the judiciary have long observed, the death penalty presents serious challenges for the fair and efficient administration of justice. For decades, those challenges have not been meaningfully addressed.
The two justices also said that Proposition 66, passed by voters in 2016 to speed up executions, will not resolve the problem because it did not provide additional funding. “In the meantime, the judiciary will continue to do its duty under the law, leaving it to the voters and our elected representatives to decide whether California should double down on the current system or chart a new course,” Liu and Cuéllar wrote.A roundup of the stories shaping California.
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Gov. Newsom may prohibit new death sentences, setting up possible conflict with BecerraGov. Gavin Newsom is considering prohibiting new death sentences in criminal cases, a position opposed by many district attorneys and one that could vex Attorney General Xavier Becerra, a death penalty supporter. It comes after Newsom imposed a moratorium on actual executions.
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Newsom seeks to halt parole for some murderers and serious offenders. What does that signal?Gov. Gavin Newsom, despite support for prison reform, has sought to block parole releases of murderers and serious offenders at a rate much higher than former Gov. Jerry Brown. It might signal that he sees political risks with parole decisions.
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Newsom declares wildfire emergency, waives environmental rules to expedite projectsGov. Gavin Newsom declared a wildfire state of emergency in California on Friday and waived environmental regulations to expedite nearly three dozen local forest management projects.
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Big business’ political muscle in Sacramento is tested by new Democratic mega-majorityIf the state Capitol had a hall of fame for playing defense against new laws, its largest shrine would be to the California Chamber of Commerce and its two-decade streak of killing bills big businesses don’t like. The new mega-majority of Democrats will be a major test of that power.
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California state agency director wrongly helped hire and promote her daughter, audit saysA former state government administrator allegedly engaged in “gross misconduct” by using the influence of her position to circumvent California’s civil service employment process in hiring and promoting her daughter, according to a state auditor’s report sent Tuesday to Gov. Gavin Newsom.
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