Second Paragraph: Explain why you are writing the letter. As with most writing, be polite, be professional, and be as succinct as possible.Writing a character letter for a judge can be a daunting task. Here are nine essential tips for writing an effective sentencing letter. Customer: I need a sample letter of asking a judge for leniency when he is sentencing a former student for criminal charges. Character letters can help your case in the following ways. 1. Use specific examples of when you observed the defendant's good character. Describe a time you saw the defendant go out of his way to help someone in need. The first paragraph should tell the judge who you are writing to him about and how you know the defendant. You'd also want to say how long you have known her.