You will have to write a letter addressed to a judge and perhaps you believe that what you say about a loved one or a criminal does not matter. However, it is possible to make a difference - find out how.
Steps
Part 1 of 6: Letters to an Accused
Step 1. Focus on the character of the accused
If you can show that all in all he is a good person or that he has good potential if he receives help, you can help form an image of the accused that inspires solidarity in the judge's mind.
- Include information about the accused's positive impact on your life and that of your family, friends and community. If possible, provide details.
- If the accused has a drug or alcohol problem, explain what kind of person he was before he started abusing these substances. This could encourage the judge to opt for a sentence in order to send him to rehabilitation rather than choosing a more severe sentence for him.
Step 2. Express your concerns about how badly the defendant's life will be affected
If the indictment and arrest are related to a minor crime, such as a drunken driving accident that injured someone, you can express your concern by stating that a harsh sentence could ruin their future.
This is most effective if this is the first time the accused has been in this situation and had no intention of hurting anyone. If the accused has committed more than one crime, the judge will not be swayed by your concerns and may be less empathetic than the defendant's future
Step 3. If necessary, write that the ruling could have a negative impact on someone else
Based on the severity of the crime, the judge might consider the welfare of others involved.
- Again, this only works if this is the first time the accused has been in such a situation and if he has committed a minor offense.
- Among the people involved, you can name his children, his elderly parents or neighbors who regularly receive assistance from him.
Step 4. Do not make up stories to justify the accused or the crime committed
Stand up for him as an individual, not for his criminal behavior.
Part 2 of 6: Letters to a Victim
Step 1. Explain the negative impact the crime has had on the victim's present and future life
- If the crime was financial in nature, you could indicate the debts and other financial burdens caused.
- If the crime was violent in nature, it explains the psychological, emotional and social impact on the victim.
- If the crime caused a physical injury, explain its implication in the victim's current and future life. This especially matters if the wound is lasting or permanent.
Step 2. Write about the impact the crime has had on your life (if any)
If the victim is a loved one who died or was seriously damaged, it indicates how dramatically this event has affected your life.
This generally relates to homicide or victim death trials. The letter will be more convincing if you are attached to the victim as a relative or close friend
Part 3 of 6: Letters Requesting the Indulgence
Step 1. Avoid Excessive Excuses
You can express your remorse or give your letter a defensive touch, but you shouldn't use the phrase "I'm sorry" too much.
While it is important to demonstrate these feelings, filling the letter with these types of phrases will seem insincere. The judge will be used to apologies, so you won't get him to believe you
Step 2. Accept your responsibility
Don't apologize for the crime if you've already been found guilty. Rather, admit your mistake and accept the consequences of this admission.
- You shouldn't do this if you are still waiting for the verdict.
- By taking responsibility for your actions, you will prove to the judge that you understand what you did wrong. This understanding is essential if you want to convince the judge that you can and want to change after gaining his indulgence.
Step 3. Express your desire to change and provide the right information to make it seem true
- Include your reasons behind your future change, such as your family or a spiritual awakening.
- If possible, explain how you intend to change. Talk about your rehab if you have an alcohol or drug problem. Explain how to receive training or pursue a career if you have committed the crime because of your financial status. Offer to volunteer or train others about the danger of certain actions related to your crime, such as substance abuse or neglect.
Step 4. Be careful if you write the letter before the formal verdict
Writing to the judge while the case is still open can be dangerous, as you may accidentally give information to use against you before the final verdict.
It is recommended that you ask your lawyer to read the letter before sending it to court
Part 4 of 6: Letters Written by the Victims
Step 1. Talk about the long-term consequences of the crime
Explain how it has changed your present and future for the worse.
- If the experience has damaged you psychologically, emotionally, spiritually, or socially, you will need to explain the depth of the wounds. The physical ones are visible, but the invisible ones must be carefully explained.
- That said, you should also include information about the hardships you face after being injured, especially if the damage is permanent and life-altering.
- Long-term financial hardship caused by the crime committed against you is also worth mentioning.
Step 2. Be open and honest
Don't try to mask emotions or pain. The letter should be written formally and professionally, but its content must reflect what you feel to convince the judge that the perpetrator deserves a just sentence.
Provide details if appropriate. It is one thing to say that you have been emotionally traumatized, it is quite another to illustrate the trauma. For example, if you are a woman who is the victim of a sexual assault that has harmed you so much that you can no longer leave the house or touch your husband, this information should be included in the letter to demonstrate the depth of the wound
Part 5 of 6: Regulations
Step 1. Do not try to send an ex parte communication, ie a letter addressed to only one party, in this case the judge
- This is prohibited by law to ensure that everyone involved has the same information and that everything is honest.
- You should file a written motion with the court before sending the letter to the judge and send a copy to everyone involved in the case, including the opposite party.
- If you do not send it to your opponent before sending it to the judge, the judge, or the court, will notify the other party or the lawyer.
Step 2. Don't send evidence
The main purpose of the letter is to influence the ruling. Evidence must be presented in court.
Also, if you send evidence without also sending it to the others involved, the court may delete it or ignore it completely
Part 6 of 6: Format the Letter
Step 1. On the envelope, write the address of the judge and address him with the title “Most Illustrious Mr. Judge”, followed by the full name
On the next line, write "Judge of (court name) of (city)".
- Write down the address of the court.
- Letters to the judge pass through the hands of the clerk of the court, especially those related to a legal fact.
Step 2. Write your address on the top left
You don't have to include your name or title. Write down the address, city, province and postal code
Step 3. Enter the date
- Use the “day-month-year” format after the address.
- If you live in the United States, use the “day of month-year” format (example: “January 1, 2013”).
- Leave a blank line between the address and the date.
- Leave the date aligned on the left of the page.
Step 4. Write the court address on the letter using the same format as the envelope
- Contact the judge by writing “Dear Mr. Judge (full name)”. Under it, write “Judge of the (court) of (city)”. Add the address of the court.
- Separate the date from the court address with a white line. Keep the address aligned to the left.
Step 5. Include the title “Judge” in the salutation, writing “Honorable Judge (surname)”
The salutation should be placed on the left and should be separated from the court address by a blank line and followed by another line before proceeding with the body of the letter
Step 6. Write the letter, the content of which should be single-spaced and left aligned
Don't indent paragraphs. Leave a white line between them
Step 7. Go for a formal and respectful closure
- Among the possibilities, "Thank you for your attention" and "Sincerely".
- Separate the closing from the last paragraph with a white line.
- Separate the closure from your name with four white lines. Write your title and your full name and sign in the space left after the closing greeting.
