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Character letter to a judge — template and tips

Enter the judge, the case number, how you know the person and what you want the court to know, and the letter is laid out ready to sign. Courts have no national form; most ask for it to go through the defense lawyer, and it may become public.

Rules of

The same tool on Korea's rules

CaseCourt, optionalJudge's name, optionalCase number, optionalDefendant's name

You (the petitioner)

Name

Address

Phone

Relationship to the person

Letter

An outline: who you are, how you know them, what you have seen, your request. Names already typed go in; replace the [brackets] yourself.

Letter

Printed exactly as typed, line breaks included. Write it in English, in your own words.

Papers attached, optional

One per line, printed as typed. Which papers an office wants varies; ask the office you are submitting to.

Date

Preview

Your Honor:

Respectfully,

________________________________

The A4 sheet as it will print. Line breaks can differ slightly from the printout.

CheckEnter your name.
CheckEnter the name of the person the case is about.
CheckWrite the letter.
CheckEnter the date.

A print window opens. Choose “Save as PDF” as the printer to keep a file. Sign above your printed name after printing.

Blank form, to fill in by hand

Letters to a judge in the United States

There is no nationwide form or rule for a letter to a judge (a character letter); each court, and often each judge, sets its own. Federal law puts no limit on the background and character a court may consider at sentencing (18 U.S.C. §3661).

Send it through the defense lawyer, not straight to the judge. Some judges' orders require that (for example, in the District of Arizona).

It may become public. In the District of New Hampshire, since June 20, 2016, sentencing letters not attached to a filing are put on the docket and can be read at the clerk's office.

Write it yourself. A judge in the Eastern District of Michigan asks that the person who signs write the letter, and says a letter written wholly by AI may not be given the same weight.

Sources

uscourts.gov — probation and pretrial services guide (18 U.S.C. §3661)read 2026-10-31
U.S. District Court, District of New Hampshire — Sentencing letters (criminal cases)read 2026-10-31
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan — a judge's practice guidelinesread 2026-10-31

A letter form, not legal advice, and no promise about any outcome. The defense lawyer can advise on what to send.

Quick questions

How do I write a character letter to a judge?

Open with "Dear Judge" and the judge's last name, give the case, say who you are and how you know the defendant, describe specific things you have seen, state your request, and sign it by hand. There is no nationwide form; each court, and often each judge, sets its own rules.

Should I send a character letter directly to the judge?

No. Send it through the defense lawyer. Some judges' orders require that, for example in the District of Arizona.

Are character letters made public?

They may be. In the District of New Hampshire, since June 20, 2016, sentencing letters not attached to a filing are put on the docket and can be read at the clerk's office.

Can I use AI to write a letter to a judge?

A judge in the Eastern District of Michigan asks that the person who signs write the letter, and says a letter written wholly by AI may not be given the same weight.