{"id":13436,"date":"2018-02-09T02:02:48","date_gmt":"2018-02-09T02:02:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=13436"},"modified":"2018-02-12T14:45:36","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T14:45:36","slug":"allocution-a-defendants-admission-of-guilt-made-directly-to-a-judge-especially-in-response-to-the-judges-questions-on-whether-the-defendant-understands-the-charges-the-right-to-a-trial-and-bo","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/reunitethestates.org\/?page_id=13436","title":{"rendered":"Allocution – a trial judge’s formal address to a convicted defendant, to ask if they wish to make a statement or present information that could lessen or cancel the sentence"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 This page is continued from >>>> Court Proceedings<\/a> >>>> Criminal Proceedings<\/a> >>>> Phases of a Criminal Court Proceedings<\/a>:<\/span>
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allocution<\/span>:<\/span>
\n<\/strong>n<\/em>. (1858) Criminal procedure<\/em>. <\/span><\/p>\n

1. A trial judge’s formal address to a convicted defendant, asking whether the defendant wishes to make a statement or to present information in mitigation of the sentence to be imposed.\u00a0 *\u00a0 This address is required under Fed. R. Crim. P. 32(c)(3)(C).\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

2. An unworn statement from a convicted defendant to the sentencing judge or jury in which the defendant can ask for mercy, explain his or her conduct, apologize for the crime, or say anything else in an effort to lessen the impending sentence.\u00a0 *\u00a0 This statement is not subject to cross-examination.\u00a0 <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

3. <\/strong>Criminal procedure.<\/em> A defendant’s admission of guilt made directly to a judge, especially in response to a series of questions from the judge on whether the defendant understands the charges, the right to a trial, the consequences of a guilty plea<\/a>, and the voluntary nature of the plea. <\/strong>[1]<\/span><\/p>\n

1. The traditional formal inquiry under the common law, which exists by force of statute in American jurisdictions with some variations, to be directed by the court to one convicted of a felony before sentence: \u2014 whether the one convicted has anything to say why sentence should not be pronounced against him 21 Am J2d Crim L \u00a7 530<\/span>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The reason given for the importance attached to this form in England is, that the appellate court may see that the prisoner had an opportunity of moving in arrest, or of pleading a pardon. State v Bull<\/em>, 27 Mo 324, 326<\/span>.<\/strong> [2]<\/span><\/p>\n

1. A judge’s question to a convicted criminal before sentence is passed, inquiring whether he has anything to say or whether there is any reason he should not be sentenced.<\/strong> [3]<\/span><\/p>\n

allocutory <\/span>–<\/strong> adj<\/em>. (1944) Of, relating to, or involving an allocution.<\/strong> <allocutory pleas for mercy>.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

References:<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Disclaimer:<\/span><\/span><\/strong> All material throughout this website is compiled in accordance with Fair Use<\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[1]: Black\u2019s Law Dictionary\u00a0Deluxe Tenth Edition\u00a0by Henry Campbell Black & Editor in Chief Bryan A. Garner<\/a>. ISBN: 978-0-314-62130-6<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[2]: Ballantine\u2019s Law Dictionary\u00a0<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/strong>with Pronunciations
\n<\/b><\/span><\/em>Third Edition<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong>by James A. Ballantine\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/strong>(James Arthur 1871-1949).\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/em>Edited by William S. Anderson.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a9 1969 by THE LAWYER\u2019S CO-OPERATIVE PUBLISHING COMPANY.\u00a0 Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 68-30931<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

[3]:\u00a0\u00a0Ballantine\u2019s Law Dictionary <\/a><\/b><\/span><\/strong>Legal Assistant Edition<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/em>
\nby Jack Ballantine\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/strong>(James Arthur 1871-1949).\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><\/span><\/em>Doctored<\/b><\/span><\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span><\/em>by\u00a0Jack G. Handler,\u00a0J.D.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a9 1994 Delmar by Thomson Learning.\u00a0 ISBN 0-8273-4874-6.<\/b><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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