Definition
A defendant's opportunity to speak on their own behalf before sentencing, typically to beg for mercy or explain why they're not as terrible as the evidence suggests. Judges listen with varying degrees of sympathy.
Example Usage
During allocution, the defendant tearfully apologized to the victims and blamed his crimes on childhood trauma and substance abuse.
Origin
From Latin 'allocutio' meaning 'address' or 'speech'
Fun Fact
Allocution is a constitutional right, though defense attorneys often coach clients to keep it brief and sincere—rambling manifestos rarely reduce sentences.
Source: Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 32 and sentencing procedures
Related Terms
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See “allocution” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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