Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman is making significant policy changes regarding the prosecution of special-circumstance murder cases, including lifting the ban on seeking the death penalty.
Effective immediately, Hochman rescinds the previous administration’s policy that prohibited prosecutors from pursuing capital punishment. However, he emphasized that the death penalty will only be considered in “the most egregious set of circumstances” after an extensive and comprehensive review.
Under the new policy, defense counsel will have greater opportunities to present mitigating information before a decision is made. The views of victims’ families will also be sought and considered. In most cases, prosecutors will inform the court early if they intend to pursue life without parole rather than the death penalty. Additionally, the standard for charging death penalty cases will now be beyond a reasonable doubt, a higher threshold than the previous probable cause standard.
Hochman’s decision marks a dramatic reversal from the previous administration’s blanket prohibition on capital punishment, signaling a tougher stance on violent crime while maintaining a cautious approach to its application.
“I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County, in consultation with the murder victim’s survivors and with full input on the mitigating and aggravating factors of each case, to ensure that the punishment sought by the Office is just, fair, fitting, and appropriate,” Hochman said.
Hochman, a seasoned attorney and advocate for a balanced approach to criminal justice, was officially sworn in as Los Angeles County’s 44th district attorney in December 2024.
The ceremony took place outside the Hall of Justice in downtown Los Angeles, with former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger administering the oath of office. Hochman’s victory last month over progressive incumbent George Gascón marks a significant shift in leadership for the county’s top prosecutor role.
“I am deeply honored for the opportunity of a lifetime … to lead the finest District Attorney’s Office in the nation — the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office,” Hochman said at the time. “Now to paraphrase Governor Schwarzenegger from many years ago, we are not here today as Democrats, Independents or Republicans. We are here collectively as Angelenos who represent the 10 million clients of the District Attorney’s Office who are looking to live in a county where safety is prioritized, laws are followed, those who break them are held accountable and the process to get there is fair, impartial, ethical and effective.”
