People v. McClain

In each of these cases, it is claimed that the statutory right1 of the defendant to be asked if he wishes to make a statement at the time of sentencing was in some manner abridged, We conclude that there was substantial compliance with the statutory requirement and, accordingly, affirm the orders appealed from.

The modern day allocution requirement can be understood only with reference to the early common law of crimes and criminal procedure. To begin with, the duty of the court to inquire at sentencing if the defendant wished to speak on his own behalf originated at a time when the.…