The Menendez brothers, Lyle and Erik, who were convicted of killing their parents in 1989, are seeing new hope for release after California Governor Gavin Newsom took a key step toward clemency. Their family members are pushing for their freedom, while Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman remains opposed to granting them a new trial.
After 35 years behind bars, the brothers now have three potential paths to release:
- Clemency – The governor has ordered a risk assessment, the first step in this process.
- Resentencing – A hearing is set for March 20-21 to determine if their sentences should be reduced.
- Habeas Petition – A judge will review new evidence claims to determine if their first-degree murder convictions should be overturned.
Family Praises Governor Newsom’s Action
The Menendez brothers’ family is grateful that Governor Newsom has taken an official step toward considering clemency.
“This is a pretty exciting time for us as the family of Lyle and Erik Menendez,” said their cousin, Annamaria Baralt, during a press conference Thursday.
She described the move as a “huge sigh of relief”, stating that the brothers have shown significant rehabilitation over the years.
“Inmates have seen it, corrections officers have seen it, and now we need the entire criminal justice system to see it.”
Their supporters argue that the brothers, now in their 50s, have turned their lives around, earning college degrees and leading support programs in prison.
DA’s Office Opposes New Trial: “Abuse Claims Don’t Change the Murder”
Despite the push for clemency, the Los Angeles DA’s Office remains firmly against granting the brothers a new trial.
DA Nathan Hochman’s Key Arguments:
- The brothers lied multiple times during the investigation.
- The new evidence of abuse does not determine whether they acted in self-defense.
- The jury was not asked to decide abuse claims, only whether they committed premeditated murder.
“The jury was not asked to decide if the Menendez brothers were sexually abused,” Hochman stated. “Only if they committed these murders willfully, deliberately, and with premeditation or in self-defense.”
The DA’s office officially filed opposition to their habeas petition last week, stating that the brothers planned the killings and cannot claim justification based on trauma.
Family & Supporters Fire Back at DA’s Arguments
Family members, including second cousin Tamara Goodell, strongly disagreed with the DA’s stance.
“No one is disputing the crime — not even Erik and Lyle,” Baralt emphasized.
She criticized the prosecutor’s framing of the case, arguing that it fails to account for modern understandings of trauma.
“The danger of presenting that 1990s narrative under today’s laws is that it ignores how far we’ve come in recognizing the long-term effects of abuse.”
Key Points From the Menendez Family:
- Trauma rewires the brain, impacting decision-making in ways not fully understood in the 1990s trial.
- Modern “trauma-informed” legal standards recognize how abuse survivors react differently under stress.
- The justice system must evolve to reflect current psychological insights about abuse and survival responses.
Baralt questioned whether Hochman was applying modern standards to the case or relying on an outdated legal framework that fails to consider the effects of prolonged abuse.
Resentencing Hearing: A Second Chance?
While the habeas petition challenges the validity of their convictions, the March 20-21 resentencing hearing will focus on their rehabilitation and progress in prison.
Former DA George Gascón supported resentencing, citing:
- College degrees earned in prison
- Leadership in inmate support programs
- Overall positive contributions within the prison system
If the judge grants resentencing, the brothers’ sentences could be reduced, giving them a chance at eventual release.
- March 20-21: Resentencing hearing before a judge
- Habeas petition ruling: Judge will decide if their first-degree murder conviction stands
- Clemency process: The California Parole Board completes risk assessment before further action by Governor Newsom
