Opinion ID: 2066027
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 7

Heading: Refusal of Trial Court to Allow Defendant Opportunity for Allocution

Text: Defendant next argues that she was denied a fair sentencing hearing when, on motion of the State, the trial judge ruled defendant was not entitled to allocution. We note, however, that this court has consistently held that there is no statutory or constitutional right to allocution at a capital sentencing hearing. ( People v. Tenner (1993), 157 Ill.2d 341, 381-82, 193 Ill.Dec. 105, 626 N.E.2d 138; People v. Kokoraleis (1989), 132 Ill.2d 235, 280-82, 138 Ill.Dec. 233, 547 N.E.2d 202.) Insofar as the defendant has presented no grounds warranting reconsideration of this holding, her allocution argument is without merit.