California Governor Gavin Newsom used his constitutional pardon powers to commute the death sentences of all 548 of the state's death row inmates to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
In an open letter to Californians, Newsom said he acted because "state-sanctioned killing is inconsistent with California values, undermines the foundations of our justice system and diminishes each of us."
Needless to say, the families of the victims are furious. District attorneys, law enforcement officials and victims' rights advocates condemned the decision, saying it overruled jury verdicts and laws approved by voters.