State v. Canfield

¶1 Allocution is the right of a criminal defendant to make a personal argument or statement to the court before the pronouncement of sentence. It is the defendant’s opportunity to plead for mercy and present any information in mitigation of sentence. Washington recognizes the right of a defendant to allocute at sentencing. However, whether a defendant who violates the conditions of a suspended sentence is entitled to allocution at a revocation hearing is a question of first impression in this court. We conclude that a defendant at a revocation hearing has a limited right to allocute. A denial…