Writing a character letter for a judge can be a daunting task. Here are nine essential tips for writing an effective sentencing letter.You will also want to include proof that you have paid all your fines, court costs, probation fees, etc. Mail a copy to the judge, DA's office, and court clerk. In this article, we will discuss how to write a formal letter to a judge, along with the proper format and a sample letter. The letter should include the name of the court your case was filed in and the case number at the top right. Put the caption (St. v. Customer: I need a sample letter asking a judge for probation at my son's readiness hearing (he's 20 years old). If there is no form available for your court, see the resource below for a sample letter you can submit to the judge. How should you start a leniency letter?