Gavin Newsom will sign an executive order Wednesday placing a moratorium on the death penalty in the Golden State. The policy will serve as an instant reprieve for the 737 people on death row in California, which has the largest death row population in the nation. The order will not alter any current conviction or sentence, or lead to the release of any prisoner currently on death row. With Newsom's move, California joins Colorado, Pennsylvania and Oregon as the fourth state to place a moratorium on the death penalty, though the length and reasoning for the moratoriums vary from state to state. Newsom has long opposed the death penalty, but has been wrestling with what action to take as governor.

Source: CNN March 13, 2019 02:37 UTC