For the first time in decades, Los Angeles County prosecutors will again be allowed to seek the death penalty — a dramatic reversal of progressive-era criminal justice policies. The decision, announced this week by newly elected District Attorney Nathan Hochman, restores the possibility of capital punishment in California’s largest county and sets the stage for a broader national shift toward law and order.

The announcement signals a break from the far-left legacy of George Gascón, the controversial former DA who barred prosecutors from pursuing executions. Gascón called the death penalty racist, ineffective, and inhumane. Hochman — a law-and-order prosecutor who unseated Gascón in a voter revolt — sees things differently.

Under Hochman’s new directive, the death penalty will be considered in only the most heinous crimes: mass shootings, domestic terrorism, the targeted murder of police officers, and other exceptionally grave offenses. A newly created Special Circumstances Committee, composed of senior prosecutors, will review each case. Victims’ families will have a voice in the process, and defense attorneys will be allowed to present mitigating evidence before a final decision is made. Hochman retains ultimate authority.

The timing of the announcement isn’t accidental. Just weeks after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping executive order to restore and strengthen the federal death penalty, Hochman is signaling that California won’t be left behind in the fight for justice. Trump’s order directs the Department of Justice to pursue capital punishment in all cases where the crime demands it — including the murder of police officers and capital crimes committed by illegal aliens.

Hochman echoed that sentiment, saying plainly: “If the law allows for it, the District Attorney has a duty to put the death penalty on the table.” That comment directly challenges California Governor Gavin Newsom’s 2019 moratorium on executions. While Newsom may have put a hold on carrying out death sentences, he lacks the authority to abolish them. The law remains on the books — and Hochman plans to use it.

This bold move comes as Los Angeles continues to struggle with the aftermath of years of soft-on-crime policies. Violent crime, smash-and-grab robberies, fentanyl overdoses, and homelessness have ravaged once-thriving communities. Families of victims — often ignored under Gascón’s regime — have demanded accountability. Now, with Hochman at the helm and Trump back in the White House, the pendulum is finally swinging back toward justice.

Naturally, the usual suspects are outraged. Public defenders, progressive activists, and career grievance-mongers are already howling about racial disparities and outdated methods. But while they wring their hands, law-abiding citizens are breathing a sigh of relief. Hochman’s decision reflects the will of the people: Americans are tired of lawlessness, excuses, and the empty promises of “restorative justice.”

Currently, California holds 592 condemned inmates — 206 from LA County alone. Many of them were quietly moved out of San Quentin’s death row under Newsom’s moratorium and are now housed in general population cells. But justice delayed is not justice denied. Hochman’s decision opens the door for prosecutors to again seek appropriate punishment for the worst of the worst.

It’s no surprise that Hochman’s policy echoes President Trump’s broader vision. Trump has made restoring law and order a cornerstone of his second term. From cracking down on international cartels to deporting criminal aliens and bringing back swift, strong penalties for capital crimes, the message is clear: lawlessness will no longer be tolerated.

For too long, radical ideologues ran America’s cities into the ground. But now the tide is turning. Justice is making a comeback. The victims are finally being heard. And in Los Angeles, the death penalty is back — for those who truly deserve it.