LA County DA Resumes Seeking Death Penalty in Rare Cases

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman has announced that his office will resume seeking the death penalty for capital murders, reversing the policy of his predecessor, George Gascon, who had banned it. Hochman emphasized that the death penalty will only be pursued in 'exceedingly rare' and 'most egregious' cases, following a thorough review that includes consultations with victims' survivors and defense attorneys. Despite a statewide moratorium on executions since 2019, Hochman stated that he is committed to ensuring that the evaluation of each case is comprehensive and just. This policy shift aligns with Hochman's campaign promise to move away from what he termed 'extreme' prosecutorial policies. The new approach also aims to enhance the involvement of defense attorneys and victim families in the decision-making process regarding capital punishment. The last execution in California occurred in 2016, and currently, there are 592 inmates on death row in the state, with a significant number from Los Angeles County.