My friend's lawyer asked me for a character reference letter for court, and I don't know what a judge wants to read.

What a judge reads for, paragraph by paragraph

A judge may read dozens of these before a sentencing hearing. The ones that help are short, specific and honest about the offense. Letters that argue the case, attack the victim or claim the person is innocent after a guilty plea tend to hurt, so leave those topics to the lawyer.

A one-page letter of 250 to 400 words usually has five parts. The word counts are a rule of thumb, not a court requirement.

1. Who you are, 30 to 60 words: your name, your job or role in the community, and how long and in what setting you have known the person. 2. That you know why you are writing, 20 to 40 words: say you are aware of the charge or the case. A judge gives more weight to a writer who is not surprised by the facts. 3. What you have seen, 100 to 180 words: two or three moments, with dates or seasons, that show how the person treats people and keeps commitments. 4. What has changed since, 40 to 80 words: treatment, work, repaying someone, staying sober, if you have seen it yourself. 5. A plain close, 20 to 40 words: that you believe in the person's character, and how to reach you.

Open with “Dear Judge [Last name]” or “The Honorable [Full name]” on the address line, the form the lawyer tells you to use. If you do not know the judge yet, “Dear Judge” or “To the Court” is common. Sign with your full name and contact details. Do not ask for a specific sentence unless the lawyer asks you to.

Example letter for a sentencing hearing

This is the example request above, written out. Names, the court and the dates are made up; the body is 219 words, short enough to leave room on the page for your address and signature.

“Dear Judge [Last name],

My name is Carol Whitfield. I was a school librarian in [Town] for 31 years and retired in 2021. I have lived next door to Daniel Reyes for eleven years, and I am writing about his sentencing in case number [number].

Daniel has told me that he pleaded guilty to driving under the influence in March. He did not try to explain it away when he told me, and I do not write to excuse it.

In 2023 I was treated for breast cancer. For five months Daniel drove me to chemotherapy every Tuesday morning and waited with me, then went to work late. I never had to ask twice.

Since his arrest I have watched him change his routine. He goes to AA meetings on Monday and Thursday evenings; I know because he leaves from his driveway at the same time I walk my dog. He sold his car in April and now rides his bike to the hardware store where he works. On Saturdays he still coaches his daughter's under-10 soccer team, and he has told the other parents why he arrives by bike.

I believe Daniel is a responsible man who made a serious mistake and is doing the work to make sure it does not happen again. I would be glad to answer any questions.

Respectfully, Carol Whitfield [Address] [Phone]”

Notice what the letter does not do. It never says the arrest was unfair, never describes the night of the offense and never asks for probation. Each claim is something Carol could repeat under oath.

Custody, employers and other kinds of court letters

Child custody. The judge wants to know about the parent with the child, not about the other parent. Describe what you have seen: who does school drop-off, how the parent handles a sick night, how the child behaves around them. Leave out criticism of the other parent even if you have it; a lawyer can decide whether that belongs in a separate statement.

From an employer. Use company letterhead only if your employer allows it. Give the person's job title, start date, attendance, and whether their job will still be there after the hearing, because judges often weigh whether someone can keep working. Facts like “he has not missed a shift in 14 months” carry the letter.

From a family member. Say the relationship plainly in the first line. A sister's letter is expected to be warm, so the details matter more: what changed after the arrest, who now depends on the person.

UK readers. A character reference for a magistrates' or Crown Court case follows the same shape. The person's solicitor tells you who to address and how to send it.

In every case the letter is about character. Facts about the offense, the evidence and the law belong to the lawyer.

What to leave out, and what to check before you sign

Cut these from any draft:

- Anything about guilt or innocence, the evidence or the police. - Blame aimed at the victim, the other parent or the prosecutor. - A requested sentence, unless the lawyer asked for one. - Things you heard from others. “His boss told me he is reliable” belongs in the boss's letter. - Big claims you cannot show, such as “he would never hurt anyone”. - Ceremonial openings like “It is with great pleasure that I write”. Nobody writes this letter with pleasure, and a judge notices.

Before: “Daniel is a wonderful person who has always been there for everyone and does not deserve what is happening to him.”

After: “For five months Daniel drove me to chemotherapy every Tuesday morning and waited with me.”

Then check three things. The case number and the judge's name are spelled the way the lawyer gave them. Every date is right. And the person knows you are writing and what it says, because the lawyer may decide not to file a letter that does not help. A letter to a court is signed by you, may be read aloud, and in many courts becomes part of the record, so the draft is a starting point and the final words must be yours.