State v. Crider

(dissenting) — The current right of allocu*862tion is spelled out in the Sentencing Reform Act of 1981: "Before imposing a sentence upon a defendant, the court shall conduct a sentencing hearing. . . . The court shall . . . allow arguments from the . . . offender . . . .” RCW 9.94A.110. Whether Michael Crider was denied that right to allocution is questionable. But even if he was, any error was harmless. I therefore respectfully dissent.

Before he sentenced Mr. Crider, the judge read a lengthy letter from him, addressed specifically to the judge, outlining his troubled childhood, problems in his…