How to Address a Legal Letter to the Court

Type all letters to keep a professional image.

When addressing the court you will address the judge handling the case. There are several reasons you may need to address a judge in a formal letter. These may include requesting a deferment of jury duty or pleading your case in a court battle. All professional letters are important, but a letter to a judge could potentially be the most important letter you will write. It is important to address a judge correctly. If the judge is offended by your letter, you may be less likely to receive unbiased treatment.

Instructions

1. Insert the date at the top of the letter by spelling out the month, inserting the numerical day and using a comma before the year.

2. Skip one line and type your address, city, state and zip code if you are not using letterhead.

3. Skip one line and type the judge's title and name. A judge's name is always preceded by "Honorable." Type the judge's address, city, state and zip code directly below.

4. Include a salutation of "Honorable" followed by the judge's first and last name. This is very important because a simple "Mr." or "Mrs." could offend a judge.

5. State your request in a clear and professional manner. Be direct and keep the letter as short as possible. Showing respect for a busy judge's time can help you gain approval.

6. Proofread the letter and correct any mistakes. Misspellings and grammatical errors can make you appear careless or uneducated.

7. Close the letter with "Sincerely," two lines below the body of the letter. Skip four lines, leaving room for your signature, and type your name.

References

• Official State of Michigan Website: Sample Letter to Judge
• Perdue University: Writing the Basic Business Letter