March 13, 2019 - Today, Wednesday, March 13, 2019, Governor Gavin Newsom signed an executive order placing a moratorium on the death penalty for all 737 inmates on California’s death row, including 24 who have already exhausted all legal appeals.

Californians have twice rejected ballot measures to abolish the death penalty and have enacted a law to speed up executions. In 2012 and again in 2016 (Proposition 62), Californian voters rejected ballot measures aimed at abolishing the death penalty.  Then lieutenant governor Newsom backed the failed Proposition 62, a ballot measure to repeal the death penalty which voters explicitly rejected.

Moreover, in November 2016, Californians passed Proposition 66 a measure to speed up executions by shortening the appeals process, which was later challenged and ultimately upheld by the California state Supreme Court.

Governor Newsom’s actions today are directly in opposition to the expressed will of the People of the State of California. By executive fiat, Governor Newsom is substituting his own individual agenda on a ballot measure that he supported and which failed in 2016. This moratorium rejects the clear and certain determination of Californians and their properly enacted laws.  In so doing Governor Newsom breaks faith with the voters who spoke decisively on this issue and even more, breaks faith with the families of victims who are yet again not able to find closure or certainty.

MARIPOSA COUNTY DEATH ROW INMATE: CARY STAYNER

One of the murderers on death row is Cary Stayner who murdered in Mariposa County.  He was convicted of the murders of four women between February and July 1999: Carole Sund, her teenage daughter Juli Sund and their teenage traveling companion Silvina Pelosso; and Yosemite Institute naturalist Joie Ruth Armstrong. He was sentenced to death for the four murders and remains on death row at San Quentin Penitentiary in California.

“The Cary Stayner case is considered the most callous crimes that have occurred in Mariposa County.  The horrific murders of Carol, Julie, Silvina and Joie have deeply impacted us all.  The people have spoken and Stayner has earned his consequence, which I’ll add is far kinder than what he offered his victims” stated Doug Binnewies
Source: Mariposa County Sheriff's Office