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Los Angeles DA Reinstates Death Penalty for Rare and Egregious Cases

District Attorney Nathan Hochman reverses predecessor’s ban, fulfilling a campaign promise and signaling a shift in LA County’s criminal justice policies.

FILE - Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman speaks at a news conference in Los Angeles, Monday, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
FILE – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman talks about the resentencing of Erik and Lyle Menendez for the murders of their parents during a news conference in downtown Los Angeles, Friday, Jan. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)
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Overview

  • Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles District Attorney, has formally reinstated the death penalty as an option for prosecutors, effective immediately.
  • The policy applies only to the most egregious cases and includes consultations with victims’ families and opportunities for defense attorneys to present mitigating evidence.
  • This decision reverses the 2020 ban implemented by former DA George Gascón, who cited systemic racism and ineffectiveness as reasons for abolishing the practice.
  • California has a statewide moratorium on executions issued in 2019, but the law still permits prosecutors to seek the death penalty, and the state has the largest death row population in the U.S.
  • Hochman’s reinstatement reflects a broader public and political shift against progressive criminal justice policies in California, aligning with his campaign commitment to take a tougher stance on crime.