In a significant move towards reforming the federal justice system, President Joe Biden announced today the commutation of sentences for 37 of the 40 individuals currently on federal death row, converting their sentences to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. This decision aligns with the moratorium on federal executions that his administration has maintained, except in cases involving terrorism and hate-motivated mass murder.
In his statement, President Biden emphasized his long-standing commitment to reducing violent crime and ensuring a just legal system. “Make no mistake: I condemn these murderers, grieve for the victims of their despicable acts, and ache for all the families who have suffered unimaginable and irreparable loss,” he said.
Biden drew upon his extensive background as a public defender, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Vice President, reinforcing his belief that the death penalty should be abolished at the federal level. He expressed his conviction that he cannot allow a future administration to resume executions that he has halted.
Notably, the list of commutations does not include high-profile cases such as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, convicted for his role in the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, or Robert Bowers, who was convicted for the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue shooting.
This action follows Biden’s campaign pledge to end the death penalty and comes amid increasing pressure from progressive lawmakers and criminal justice advocates to act on behalf of federal death row inmates before the possibility of a transition in administration.
