Los Angeles, CA, Monday, March 10, 2025 - 26. District Attorney Nathan Hochman provides an update on the Lyle and Erik Menendez case.(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
Los Angeles, California – Los Angeles County prosecutors will once again be allowed to seek the death penalty in the most egregious murder cases, District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Monday. The decision marks a sharp reversal from the policy of his predecessor, George Gascón, and fulfills a key promise from Hochman’s campaign.
While the death penalty remains under a moratorium in California, Hochman emphasized that his office would only pursue it in “exceedingly rare cases.” He reiterated his commitment to a thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in the county.
“I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County,” Hochman said in a statement.
The reinstatement of the death penalty marks a significant departure from the approach taken by former DA George Gascón, who banned prosecutors from seeking capital punishment when he took office in 2020. In a special directive at the time, Gascón argued that the death penalty was “inextricably intertwined” with racial bias and failed to deter crime. He also sought to have existing death sentences for LA County inmates reconsidered.
Hochman’s election last year was widely seen as part of a broader pushback against progressive criminal justice policies in California. His stance aligns with his campaign promise to consider capital punishment in extreme cases, as long as it remains legal in the state.
Although California law still allows for capital punishment, Governor Gavin Newsom issued a moratorium on executions in 2019, preventing the state from carrying out death sentences. The last execution in California took place in 2006. Newsom’s term ends in January 2027, and he is not eligible for reelection.
Currently, California has 592 condemned inmates, with 206 from Los Angeles County. Most of these individuals have been moved from San Quentin’s former death row and are now housed in the general population at other maximum-security prisons.
Under Hochman’s policy, defense attorneys will be given opportunities to present mitigating evidence before a death penalty decision is made. Survivors of murder victims will also have a chance to share their views.
