Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: addressing the court

Your question is awfully vague about what kind of proceeding this is and what kind of information the parent wishes to offer. Ordinarily, courts will not permit parents to do what you describe here. If you have facts which will shed light on the case, then you can testify as a witness when there is a trial. Just standing up and addressing the court -- without being sworn to tell the truth and without notice to the other side that you might be offering testimony -- is not proper procedure. I would object if I were the lawyer on the other side in such a case, and that objection would likely be sustained under most circumstances.

Re: addressing the court

You can stand and request that the court allow you to address it. State the issue which you wish to address. The court in its descretion may allow you to address the court. Be prepared to make your statement, so that you can present your statement succinctly.