‘This is a game of time:' Menendez brothers granted early parole hearing

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Erik and Lyle Menendez are getting another chance to appear before a California parole board — and much sooner than previously expected.

The brothers have been granted an early parole suitability hearing tentatively scheduled for March 2027, roughly 17 months earlier than the date they were previously eligible to seek. ABC News’ Alex Stone and legal analyst Brian Buckmire are breaking down why the hearing was moved up and what it could mean for the brothers' future.

Why Was the Hearing Moved Up?

The Menendez brothers had originally been expected to wait until August 2028 for another parole hearing after both were denied parole in 2025.

California law, however, allows an incarcerated person to request an earlier hearing when there has been a change in circumstances or new information indicating that the person may be suitable for parole. The California Board of Parole Hearings granted the brothers' requests for an earlier review, resulting in the tentative March 2027 date.

The Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has not publicly explained exactly what circumstances or new information prompted the board to move the date forward.

That uncertainty is one reason the upcoming hearing could be significant. The March proceeding is not a guarantee of release, but it gives the brothers an opportunity to present their case again considerably sooner than expected.

The Brothers Were Denied Parole Last Year

Erik and Lyle appeared separately before parole commissioners in August 2025, nearly three decades after their convictions for killing their parents, Jose and Kitty Menendez, in their Beverly Hills home in August 1989.

Both were denied parole.

Among the concerns raised during the hearings were the brothers' conduct while incarcerated. Erik was questioned about prison rule violations, including the use of a contraband cellphone, while Lyle faced questions about his behavior and whether he had demonstrated sufficient insight and accountability.

The denials meant the brothers would normally have had to wait until 2028 before seeking another parole hearing.

How Their Sentences Changed

The possibility of parole became available after a Los Angeles judge resentenced the brothers in May 2025.

They had originally received life sentences without the possibility of parole after their 1996 convictions. Their sentences were reduced to 50 years to life, making them eligible for parole consideration because they were under 26 years old when the murders occurred.

Lyle was 21 and Erik was 18 at the time of the killings.

Their attorneys and relatives have spent years arguing that their cases deserve another look, particularly because of evidence and testimony concerning alleged sexual and physical abuse by their father.

A Case That Continues to Divide Public Opinion

The brothers have never disputed that they killed their parents. Their defense has long been that they acted out of fear after years of alleged abuse and believed they were protecting themselves.

Prosecutors, however, argued that the killings were motivated by money and the brothers' desire to gain access to their parents' multimillion-dollar estate. The prosecution also pointed to their spending after the murders as evidence of financial motivation.

Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman continues to oppose their release.

In a statement, Hochman said his office's position would remain the same whether the hearing takes place in 2027, 2028 or later. He has argued that the brothers must stop violating prison rules and fully accept responsibility for what prosecutors describe as false claims surrounding the killings.

Their Family Says They Have Changed

The brothers' family has taken a very different view of their decades in prison.

In a statement following the announcement of the earlier hearing, relatives said Erik and Lyle have spent nearly 40 years working to take responsibility for their actions, confront their trauma and contribute positively to the prison community.

The family pointed to their involvement in programs including a hospice initiative and a prison beautification project as examples of their rehabilitation and personal growth.

The family has also expressed gratitude that the brothers will have another opportunity to demonstrate their rehabilitation before the parole board.

What Happens Next?

The March 2027 hearing is currently tentative, meaning the date could still change.

If the hearing proceeds, parole commissioners will once again examine the brothers' conduct in prison, their rehabilitation, their insight into the crimes, their plans for life outside prison and whether they pose a risk to public safety.

A decision to advance the hearing does not mean the brothers will automatically be released.

For now, the clock is simply moving faster than expected.

After being told they would likely have to wait until 2028, Erik and Lyle Menendez could now be back before the parole board in just months — making March 2027 the next major turning point in a case that has remained in the national spotlight for nearly four decades.

Source: ABC News