Overview

• Richard Farley, convicted of killing seven people and injuring four in a 1988 mass shooting at ESL Inc. in Sunnyvale, will remain on death row after a judge's ruling on March 21, 2025.
• Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen had petitioned to reclassify Farley's death sentence to life without parole, citing his office's opposition to the death penalty.
• Victims' families and survivors strongly opposed the resentencing effort, arguing it would deny justice for the victims and undermine the original jury's decision.
• The judge's decision follows emotional victim impact statements recounting the trauma of the shooting and its lasting effects on survivors and families.
• California's moratorium on executions, enacted in 2019, remains in place, but death sentences are still legally valid and could be reinstated under future administrations.