The long-anticipated parole hearing for Lyle and Erik Menendez has been officially pushed to late August, state officials announced Monday.
The brothers, convicted in 1996 for the 1989 murders of their parents, are now scheduled to appear before the California Board of Parole Hearings on August 21 and 22, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
Originally slated for June 13, the hearing was delayed following a shift in legal proceedings earlier this month. California Governor Gavin Newsom’s office confirmed that a clemency review previously in progress had been withdrawn, converting the proceeding into a standard parole hearing. Although the board will ultimately recommend whether the Menendez brothers should be granted release, the final decision still rests with the governor.
In a Facebook update, Lyle Menendez acknowledged the scheduling change, calling the delay a “good thing,” as it allows more time for preparation. “Given that first-time parole applicants face long odds, this extra time could make a significant difference,” the post stated.
The development comes on the heels of a resentencing decision by Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Michael Jesic, who ruled earlier this month that the brothers be re-sentenced to 50 years to life. That ruling made them eligible for parole consideration after spending over three decades in prison.
The Menendez case has long captivated the nation, with the brothers claiming they acted in self-defense after suffering years of abuse at the hands of their father. Their upcoming hearing will mark a critical juncture in their decades-long pursuit of release.
