情じょう状じょう酌しゃく量りょう

noun, noun or participle which takes 'suru', transitive verb, intransitive verb

taking extenuating circumstances into consideration; mitigation of sentence

A legal term used in criminal proceedings when the court considers mitigating factors that may reduce the severity of the punishment. Often appears in the phrase 情状酌量の余地がある (there is room for leniency).

• 裁さい判ばん官かんは情じょう状じょう酌しゃく量りょうを認みとめ、執しっ行こう猶ゆう予よを言いい渡わたした。

  The judge acknowledged the extenuating circumstances and handed down a suspended sentence.

• 弁べん護ご人にんは情じょう状じょう酌しゃく量りょうを求もとめた。

  The defense attorney asked for leniency.