allocution
Defendant's courtroom speech
Allocution is a formal address or speech, particularly one delivered by a judge to a defendant before sentencing.
In this legal context, it gives the convicted person an opportunity to speak on their own behalf—to express remorse, explain circumstances, or request leniency: During his allocution, he apologized to the victim's family.
The term also applies to formal addresses by authority figures, especially papal pronouncements.
Persuasive verbal grace
- oratoryFormal eloquent discourse
- deliveryConveyance of goods
- dictionChoice of words
- articulationClear vocal expression
prosody · cadence · intonation · persuasion · rhetoric · flourish · peroration · declamation
Imposing legal punishment
- pleaFormal request or defense
- mitigationReduction of severity
- defendantParty facing charges
- courtroomJudicial proceedings chamber
verdict · judge · testimony · conviction · acquittal · arraignment · prosecution · defense
Formal beginning ceremony
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- commencementAct of starting
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
- investitureCeremony conferring rank
enthronement · ordination · benediction · dedication · vows · tribute · homage · eulogy
Express sharp disapproval
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
- chastisementFormal scolding or correction
warning · correction · condemnation · criticism · disapproval · lecture · exhortation · caution
Organized effort toward goal
- debateFormal argument on issues
- stump speechCandidate's standard campaign oration
- platformRaised flat structure
- rallyGathering for a cause
podium · diplomacy · parliament · senate · statesman · electorate · caucus · constituency
eloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
articulation · prosody · cadence · intonation · persuasion · rhetoric · flourish · peroration · declamation · grandiloquence
sentencing
Imposing legal punishment
- pleaFormal request or defense
- mitigationReduction of severity
- defendantParty facing charges
courtroom · verdict · judge · testimony · conviction · acquittal · arraignment · prosecution · defense · trial
inauguration
Formal beginning ceremony
- coronationCeremony installing a sovereign
- commencementAct of starting
- convocationFormal ceremonial gathering
investiture · enthronement · ordination · benediction · dedication · vows · tribute · homage · eulogy · toast
rebuke
Express sharp disapproval
- reprimandFormal expression of disapproval
- censureFormal institutional disapproval
- reproachExpression of disappointment
chastisement · warning · correction · condemnation · criticism · disapproval · lecture · exhortation · caution · denunciation
campaign
Organized effort toward goal
- debateFormal argument on issues
- stump speechCandidate's standard campaign oration
- platformRaised flat structure
rally · podium · diplomacy · parliament · senate · statesman · electorate · caucus · constituency · mandate
- speechesspeech, addresses, historic speeches, lecture, soliloquy
- courtroom speechclosing arguments, opening statement, closing argument, summation, rebuttal
- trialsjury trial, bench trial, civil trial, criminal trial, retrial
- papacypontiff, Pope, pope, Holy See, papal election
- sentencinglife sentence, life sentences, prison sentence, death row, consecutive sentences
- plea dealsplea bargain, plea deal, plea agreement, plea negotiation, guilty plea
allocutionsentencing
Imposing legal punishment
indictment · accusation · judgment · verdict · pronouncement