Overview

• Erik and Lyle Menendez, convicted in 1996 for the 1989 murder of their parents, are now eligible for parole after serving 35 years in prison.
• Judge Michael Jesic commuted their life sentences without parole to 50 years under California laws reexamining sentences for crimes committed before age 26.
• The brothers' defense argued the killings were in self-defense following years of alleged sexual abuse by their father, a claim excluded from earlier trials.
• District Attorney Nathan Hochman opposes their release, citing inconsistencies in their past statements and questioning their accountability.
• Public advocacy, fueled by a 2024 Netflix series and celebrity endorsements, has amplified calls for clemency, which Governor Gavin Newsom is still considering.