How to Write a Letter About a Friend's Character for Court

Insert the court’s address and the date. You should type your reference letter on regular white paper. At the top, on the left-hand side, insert the address where you will be sending the letter (e.g., the court). Then move down two lines and insert the date.

• If you have letterhead, then you should go ahead and use it. Using letterhead will make it look more official, and you should certainly use your letterhead if you are writing in a professional capacity (such as a doctor, employer, professor, etc.)

Add the salutation. After the date, drop down two spaces and add the salutation. You should begin the letter with “Your Honor.”^[2] Then space down two more lines.

Identify yourself. In the first paragraph, you should explain who you are and why you are writing. Specifically, you should explain how you know the defendant and in what capacity. If you are writing a character letter for a criminal defendant, for example, you could state, “I have known Jess McGann for six years, ever since we met in our first year in college. We worked together every summer and continued to stay in close touch after graduation. I understand he has been arrested for burglary. I am writing this letter to attest to his good character, which I believe warrants a lenient sentence.”^[3]

• If you are offering a character reference for immigration court, then be sure to include information about your own immigration status.^[4] You could state: “I am Catherine Steiner, the owner of Steiner’s Floral boutique and a U.S. citizen. For the past two years I have employed Abbey Rogers as a floral technician. Although I knew she had a green card, I was surprised to learn recently that it has been cancelled because of an aggravated battery she committed. I am writing to explain why I have always found her to be a person of integrity, and why I think the battery is out of character.”

Describe the requestor’s character. In the next paragraph, you will need to provide concrete specifics that illustrate the defendant’s character. Use specific examples or anecdotes. Doing so will make your writing more vivid and believable. Feel free to use more than one paragraph, if necessary.

• If you know someone in a personal capacity, you can describe situations that illustrate that you trusted the person’s character. For example, you might describe leaving your keys with the requestor to look after your pets while you were away: “I was surprised to learn of the offence Jess committed because I have always found him trustworthy. As an example, last year my wife and I visited friends in Europe. We gave Jess the key to our house so that he could pick up the mail, feed our pets, and tend to our garden. He gave me regular updates by email, and when my family returned home the house was in perfect shape. Nothing was missing.”^[5]
• Alternately, if you know someone primarily through a professional capacity, then you should write about your experiences with the requestor. You should still emphasize why you find the person trustworthy.^[6] For example, you may be the person’s boss. You could write, “In the two years I have employed Abbey, I have found her to be a reliable employee. When she began, I had her only working on the flowers in a back room, but I found her so capable that soon she was working at the counter, greeting customers. Within a month, I trusted her enough to allow her to conduct transactions. After six months, I had given her a key and allowed her to open and close the boutique. I have never trusted another employee to perform these tasks, and I think it is a testament to her character that I never had a second thought of entrusting her to handle the cash register or have a key to the building.”

Conclude with a strong recommendation. For example, you could state, “I share in Jess’s embarrassment regarding the commission of this offence, but I am confident that he will take responsibility for his actions and not re-offend. I strongly recommend that he be given a fair sentence.”^[7]

• Likewise, if you are writing a character reference letter to keep someone from being deported, then you should close by stating, “For the foregoing reasons, I strongly encourage the court to cancel Ms. Rogers’ removal” or words to that effect.^[8]
• In your conclusion, also include a phone number and email address (if you have one). This way, the judge can contact you if she or he wants. Also include a mailing address if one is not included on the letterhead.