A moral character letter for court is a letter written by someone who knows the person being sentenced, and is meant to provide insight into their character. Basically, someone who can vouch for the accused person in the court.
At some point during the proceedings, a moral character letter will be required. The letter is submitted to the court. A letter written the right way has the potential to persuade the jury. If a sentence has been announced, a moral character letter might play a part in a reduced sentence.
In this article, we’ll deep-dive into the elements that make up a good moral character letter for court. Before we get started, let’s analyze who can write a character reference letter for you.
Who can write a character reference letter?
There’s not a strict requirement of who can write reference letters, but it’s written mainly by:
- A spouse
- A close friend
- A relative
- A religious leader
- A colleague or acquaintance
Basically, any person who has ties to the defendant or whose voice is credible enough can write the letter.
The person writing the letter needs to:
- Explain how long they’ve known the person being accused
- Demonstrate how close you two are
- Showcase why your words should be taken into consideration by the court
Is there a template for a character reference letter?
A character reference letter for court is a written statement explaining the moral qualities of the defendant. There are existing templates that can be used. Templates have the following advantages:
- It is easily editable
- It saves time
- It will be in the correct format
Now that we’ve answered some basic questions, let’s deep-dive into some of the writing instructions that make up a good character letter:
Understand the purpose of the letter
The purpose of the moral character letter is to provide the court with a sense of the person’s character and to help the court make a more informed decision about their sentence. Keep this purpose in mind as you write the letter.
Include relevant information
To establish yourself as the referee writing the letter, it is important to include the following information:
- Your name
- Your address
- Your contact number
- The case number
- Details of the accused for whom the letter is being written
Use a formal tone
The letter should be written in a formal tone, as it is being presented to the court. Use a professional font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, and avoid using slang or casual language.
Show that you have respect for the court by referring to the person who’s reading the letter as “Your honor”.
Don’t: Writing in a casual tone is not only a disrespect to the person reading your letter, but will also undermine your importance as a character referee.
Introduce yourself
Begin the letter by giving formal greetings to the jury and the magistrate.
Introduce yourself and explain your relationship to the person being sentenced. Make it clear why you are qualified to speak about their character.
Know who you’re writing the letter to, whether it’s the:
- Sentencing judge (if the court case is in its final stages)
- Presiding judge (if the court case is in its initial trial stages)
The introduction should be as concise as possible. You don’t want to be taking the focus away from the body of the letter.
Describe the person’s character
In the main body of the letter, provide specific examples of the person’s character traits. These might include honesty, kindness, responsibility, reliability, or any other positive qualities you feel are important to highlight.
Showcase that the person is better than the crimes he’s being accused of.
It pays off to explain an incident that happened and how the defendant handled the situation. Basically, it is more impactful to give an example which shows the character of the person instead of just saying the character traits of the person.
Show that you’re up-to-date
To demonstrate familiarity with the case, mention that you’re aware of the accused, the case against them and the problem in general. Showing that you’re aware of the charges against the accused establishes that you’re up-to-date.
To add more value to your letter, write how your experiences with the accused do not align with the charges against the person.
Try to invest effort into hearing how things are proceeding in the court – both from the defendant’s point-of-view and from the lawyers.
Conclude the letter
In the final paragraph, summarize your main points and express your belief that the person being sentenced is of good moral character. The aim is to reinstate the key points from the letter.
Basically, write a final sentence that convinces the jury.
Right before the conclusion, add your opinion. Explain what the accused did was justified or not. Was it out of character for the accused to behave the way they did? If the answer is in the affirmative, give reasons as to why the accused might have resorted to those actions.
Proofread and edit
Before submitting the letter, make sure to proofread and edit it for spelling and grammar errors.
It’s best to create a draft and get it read by another person. A third-person’s eye is necessary to point out mistakes that the writer might have skipped.
Even if your points are valid, using Incorrect grammar will only lessen the impact of your letter.
Read: 10 best proofreading courses & classes
It’s important to be sincere and honest in your letter, and to provide concrete examples of the person’s good character. The goal is to provide the court with a balanced and accurate portrayal of the person being sentenced.
Phrases to avoid in a good moral character letter
- “The person XYZ has been in my life for a long time.” It is suggested not to use this sentence as it doesn’t point to specific traits of the person’s character. In other words, the sentence doesn’t give valuable information to the court.
- “XYZ is a good person.” This phrase is too general and does not provide any specific examples or details about the person’s character.
- “The person XYZ has never done anything wrong in their lives.” You can’t testify to such a statement because it is likely that the person didn’t do anything wrong in front of you. Regardless of how close you are to a person, the person might have a hidden side of themselves that others must not be aware of. It is better to focus on specific examples of the person’s good character, rather than making broad statements that are not backed up by evidence.
- “Everyone likes the person XYZ.” This phrase is not credible, as it is not possible for everyone to like the person. It is better to focus on specific examples of the person’s good character, rather than making broad statements that are not backed up by evidence.
- “In this case the jury has made a mistake.” This phrase does not give evidence related to a person’s character and in fact undermines the court ruling(s).
If there’s some phrase or sentence that you’re unsure of, it’s always a nice idea to discuss it with a lawyer beforehand.
Final verdict: the absolute essentials for character letters
This article discussed the instructions for writing a good moral character letter. Let’s summarize the key points that you need to keep in mind when writing a character letter:
- It’s important to show your respect towards the judge/jury as they’re playing an important part in the community.
- The last thing you want is to be wasting the court’s time. Judges normally have a busy schedule and will not have much time to read through long letters. Keep your letter concise. While writing, imagine the person reading your letter will only skim through it.
- Be up-to-date with the court proceedings. If you show interest in the case, it will reflect in your letter.
- Avoid making general or broad statements about the person’s character in your letter. Instead, focus on providing specific examples and details that demonstrate the person’s good moral character.
- In your letter, don’t try to undermine the case. Agree with any decision or court rulings that have been made.
To sum up: only include relevant points. Any sentence that doesn’t help the accused in strengthening their case should be omitted. Remember not to write very long sentences or stores. Short and punchy lines are more impactful.
