Lyle and Erik Menendez have asked the court to disqualify Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman from their upcoming resentencing hearing, according to new court documents.
At 57 and 54 years old, respectively, the Menendez brothers have spent 35 years in prison for the murders of their parents in 1989. After a mistrial in 1993, they were convicted in 1996 and given life sentences without the possibility of parole.
The brothers have maintained that they acted in self-defense, fearing for their lives after enduring years of abuse. In October 2024, former District Attorney George Gascón proposed reducing their sentence to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole. However, following his defeat in the November election, Hochman withdrew this recommendation.
In February, California Governor Gavin Newsom requested comprehensive risk assessments as part of the process to consider reducing their sentences further. However, Judge Michael Jesic had not reviewed these reports by the time of the scheduled resentencing hearing on April 17. The hearing was postponed to allow time for this review.
A new hearing date is set for May 9 to determine if the reports will be admitted. On April 25, the Menendez brothers filed a motion to have Hochman removed from this hearing.
Their attorney, Mark Geragos, stated that the DA recognized a conflict of interest in the case. He emphasized that the Menendez family largely supports their release, except for one family member who opposes it. The legal team argued that the brothers deserve a fair resentencing and that any perceived bias could infringe on their rights.
In conclusion, the motion expressed that both the Menendez brothers and their family members should be guaranteed a just process in the hearings. The concerns raised highlight the necessity for transparency and fairness in how the proceedings are conducted.
