Overview

• Erik and Lyle Menendez were resentenced to 50 years to life on May 13, 2025, making them eligible for parole under California's youth offender law.
• Gov. Gavin Newsom shifted the brothers' June 13 clemency hearing to a parole suitability hearing, following a court-ordered risk assessment.
• The Menendez brothers, convicted in 1996 for the 1989 murders of their parents, could be released if the parole board recommends it and the governor approves.
• The youth offender law, expanded in 2018, allows parole consideration for individuals under 26 at the time of their crimes, reflecting evolving views on juvenile brain development.
• Experts suggest the brothers may secure parole within months, though Gov. Newsom retains ultimate authority to approve or deny their release.