§ 137.030 Presence of defendant at pronouncement of judgment

If someone is found guilty of a felony, they have to be there in person when the judge announces the sentence. The court can't hand down a felony judgment unless the defendant is physically present in the courtroom.

For misdemeanors, the rule is more relaxed. The judge can announce the sentence even if the person isn't there. This means someone convicted of a lesser charge might not need to show up for that final step in the case.

The difference comes down to how serious the charge is. Felonies carry bigger consequences, so the law makes sure the person is present to hear their sentence directly from the judge. Misdemeanors are treated as less serious, so the court has more flexibility to move forward without the defendant in the room.