Menendez Brothers resentencing hearing set for December 11: Potential path to freedom after 34 years

Erik and Lyle Menendez’s resentencing hearing could bring parole eligibility, marking a new phase in their case.

A resentencing hearing for Erik and Lyle Menendez is scheduled for December 11, marking a crucial moment in their 34-year incarceration following the 1989 killings of their parents in Beverly Hills.

The date, set by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic, comes as prosecutors recommend resentencing, potentially allowing parole eligibility due to their ages at the time of the crime. District Attorney George Gascón supports a 50-years-to-life sentence, citing the brothers' educational achievements and community contributions in prison, such as Lyle’s prison beautification program. However, opposition remains within Gascón’s office and among family members, with arguments expected in court.

If resentencing is approved, a state parole board decision will follow, and Governor Gavin Newsom will have 150 days to review any release recommendation. Separately, a November 25 hearing on a habeas petition could also serve as a potential pathway to freedom, while the brothers' clemency request to Newsom has garnered support from Gascón’s office. The Menendez brothers' case, recently revisited in Netflix’s Monsters: Lyle and Erik Menendez Story, continues to attract public attention, with Governor Newsom acknowledging his review of the case.