District Attorney Nathan Hochman, a tough district attorney with new crimes in Los Angeles, said his office after a thorough review that after a death penalty, he would only seek “only in the rarest cases.”
California has a statewide moratorium on the death penalty, but it remains in the book, and prosecutors can still ask for prisoners to be placed on death row inmates.
“I remain unshakable to ensuring that the punishment the office is seeking is fair, fit and appropriate, with a comprehensive and thorough assessment of all special circumstances murder cases charged in Los Angeles County, consultation with the survivors of murder victims and complete input on factors that would mitigate and worsen each case,” Hochman said Tuesday.
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Nathan Hochman from the Pos Angeles District Lawyer Candidate Forum at Pacific Palms Resort. (Robert Gautier/Los Angeles Times Getty Images)
His office only seeks the death penalty under a “set of the worst circumstances,” he said. As part of the new policy, defense attorneys will have more opportunities to prevent evidence from being reduced.
In September 2023, Hochman's predecessor, George Gascon, of death penalty opponent, doubled after the ambush murder of Los Angeles County Sheriff Deputy Ryan Clinkonbloom 30.
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Los Angeles Sheriff Deputy Ryan Clinkon Bloomer and District Attorney George Gascon; (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times Getty Images)
While murder of law enforcement officials qualifies for the death penalty under California law, Gascon had barred prosecutors from seeking claims of special circumstances, such as strengthening guns and targeting officers on duty.
He then shocked the murdered deputy family, made public announcements and publicly announced that he would not seek the death penalty for Kevin Eduardo Catano Salazar (29). Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Kevin Salazar is seen in custody outside his Palmdale, California home on suspicion of murdering a Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputy. (keynews.tv)
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According to the Death Penalty Information Center, which tracks executions around the US, Covid-19 has killed more death row inmates than the state has executed in the past 30 years.
California, which has not executed a condemned prisoner since 2006, has the largest death row population in the country, according to a nonprofit.
