Supreme Court of Delaware

Muhammad v. State

October 31, 2023

Summary

The Court held that an unpreserved challenge to restrictions on allocution at a non-capital sentencing hearing is reviewed for abuse of discretion rather than plain error. Applying that standard, it found no abuse because the judge had reviewed Muhammad’s written submissions and presentence report, permitted him to speak at length, and interrupted only when his remarks became repetitive or irrelevant. The judgment was affirmed.