Following are the instructions for completing a clemency application. I need a sample letter asking judge for leniency to a. From traffic violations to felony offenses, a person can choose to write a plea letter for their case. But what makes a good character reference letter for the court. A clemency letter is written to request a pardon of a convicts sentence, usually for those on death row. List concrete examples of steps he is taking to change. While writing its crucial to understand the entire petition clemency process. Nov 05, 20 sample letter to judge asking for leniency. Pardon request letter sent to governor haley barbour.
Oct 07, 2016 the judge at my sentencing didnt want to give me life without parole, but he had to, hernandez said. Offer personal stories and examples of his helpful and compassionate qualities. The person who is writing such a letter should get in touch with the lawyer concerned to draft this kind of a letter and present it before the court. His petition was accompanied by a oneandahalf page, typewritten letter to obama that hernandez wrote from his prison in oklahoma. The following is the text of a fivepage letter that rena maldonado of londonderry, the mother of daniel maldonado, submitted to u. The guidelines for executive clemency give more detailed information on what you. Character reference letters and their influence at sentencing. The bulk of your letter should focus on these points. Accordingly, if you are seeking clemency for a state criminal conviction, you should not complete and submit this petition. A clemency letter is written to request a pardon of a. Your allegations clearly deserve the serious consideration they have received and we now request more information in order to complete our evaluation of your requests for.
If you wish to enter a plea by mail, most court websites provide downloadable forms that you can print and fill out the requested information. Criminal character reference letter to judge choice. They can be sent to a judge before an individual is sentenced and before the legal counsel has pleaded their case before the court. This is advice from a former member of the texas board of pardons and paroles on what constitutes an effective clemency letter. Clemency letter for inmate sample with example free download. See more ideas about letter to judge, reference letter and character letters. Krause responds to the petition for executive clemency for kevin cooper. A plea bargains is a negotiated deal between the prosecutor, the defendant, and the court in which the prosecutor offers the defendant lesser charges in exchange for a guilty plea in. Use the title honorable before the judge s name for instance, honorable john smith.
Tips on writing to the pardon attorney or president. This clemency letter sample will guide you to create more effective voice and plan accordingly. Instead, you should wait for the defendants attorney to give you permission. The board will make a confidential recommendation for the governor. Sample letter to judge name address date honorable name of judge judge of name of court mailing address. Writing an executive clemency petition illinois legal aid online. When you know the charges against the defendant it sends the judge a message that you do know what the defendant has done but that. In the first paragraph you will introduce yourself. Instead, you should contact the governor or other appropriate authorities of the state where the conviction occurred e. I need a sample letter asking judge for leniency to a first. But where does one start when a loved ones life is laid across someone elses table. Benjamin darras is seeking a pardon for the crime of capital murder in the state of mississippi. Writing an impressive expungement letter with sample. Oct 31, 2018 sample letter to a judge there are number of occasions when you have to write a letter to judge.
Board recommendations to the governor are confidential. Clemency must be requested from the convening authority after the sentence but before the case is closed. Sample letter to judge asking for leniency wikihow. Aug 19, 2009 sample letter to a judge an example plea letter to a judge highlighting the humanitarian acts and positive traits of the offender. Sample letter request for clemency the letter barn. Nothing could be more important to the integrity of our justice system than ensuring that an innocent person is not executed. One great way to get writing is to follow a clemency letter example. It is, however, always appropriate to consult your lawyer before you write one. A clemency letter should be written in a respectful tone and include any important irregularities from the trial or appeals, what state the appellant is a member of and any instances of abuse or other mitigating factors. Below is a copy of the letter he is sending to the governor included in his petition requesting a pardon. If the parole board members are going to consider clemency, they need to be able to see loved one as a human being and not as a criminal.
Writing a letter to a judge can be extremely impactful if it is written properly. The president cannot pardon a state criminal offense. Character reference letters should be a part of your sentencemitigation strategy. A clemency letter example in also available at the end of the article. Present facts about his past that help a judge understand how he ended up in. Writing effective clemency support letters for marijuana. My name is benjamin darras and i am an inmate in the mississippi state penitentiary serving a sentence of life without parole for the crime of capital murder. A character letter to a judge should be written in the most orderly manner as it will be lead to a persons acquittal and jingoism in it wouldnt let the letter serve the purpose which it should. How to write a letter of leniency to a judge legal beagle. Someone convicted of a crime may seek a pardon to restore his or her legal rights, such as the right to vote or serve on a jury. How to write a letter to the judge for victims of rape. In the first paragraph, introduce yourself and give your sons name.
A sample request for character reference letters may follow this sample. Under the constitution, the president has the authority to grant pardon for federal offenses, including those adjudicated in the united states district courts, the superior court of the district of columbia, and military courtsmartial. Writing a strong reference letter for a friend with samples. For ease, please name the file clemency lastfirst i. I am shaken by how difficult this letter is for me. How to write an effective clemency letter dailystrength. I wrote a clemency letter for my son who is an inmate in. For ease, please name the file clemencylastfirst i. Putting something in writing is a phrase used to describe that you really mean what you are saying so a letter can add proof of sincerity to your situation. So keep the main aim of the letter in mind as you write it. Step by step guide to write a pardon or apology letter.
I am writing to ask you to grant clemency to texas death row prisoner rodney. The same letter also needs to be sent to the other agencies mentioned above. A pardon letter to the judge in order to shorten the sentence of conviction requires professionalism and clear facts to back your requests and must be done in a very formal way. The president cannot commute a sentence for a state criminal offense. My name is first and last, and i am a doctor in the state of nevada. In the letter, he took responsibility for the crimes he committed.
Dear governor, we the citizens of your state are writing to request that you commute simone cowells death sentence to life without the possibility of parole for the following reasons. Date probation or supervision terminated if applicable attach a copy of your police record rap sheet. Norman hile, attorney at law 20180817 response letter keven cooper clemency request july 3rd 2018, peter a. You should expect a judge to be able to see through your examples if you make them up. Here is a sample expungement letter to be sent to a judge. Character letter for judge prison professional 4154191728.
Use this sample character letter to a judge for a friend as a template for your formal notification. How to write a letter to a judge before sentencing wikihow. Read the emotional letter from a former inmate to president. Accordingly, the clemency letter sample below a letter to the president of the united states requesting a commutation of sentence, might get your juices flowing if you are writing the letter yourself. Character letters for a judge requesting a lower sentence for a defendant are a mainstay of federal criminal cases. I am writing on behalf of my brother, defendant to request that he receives primary custody of. It is written in formal business letter style and should be sent by certified mail with a request for proof of delivery. Tickle the wirebig names like catherine zeta jones submit letters 32642448.
Dec 17, 2018 use the judge s correct title, with the words your honorable in the letter s heading, and use either dear judge last name or your honor as the opening greeting. Jul 28, 2010 write the judge s name and the courts address along the left margin, beneath your own. Expungement when you write your petition you also need to ask for. Napa, ca 94558 dear judge richardson, i appreciate your thoughtfulness, respect, and fairness throughout my trial. Writing a good speeding ticket appeal letter with sample. In his application, he wanted to show that i made a bad decision as a kid, but i didn. Accordingly, if you are seeking clemency for a state. An example petition letter to a governor to request clemency for a death row prisoner.
Try to connect those incidents from the past to your. Your acquaintances, if convicted in a case, might need a character reference letter to judge in a court to help them plead nonguilty in a subtle manner. Thinking through an effective sentencing strategy includes thoughts about the character reference letters. Jun 09, 2009 i wrote a clemency letter for my son who is an inmate in stateville correctional center in joliet, ill. What keeps me believing in him and loving him is the fact that he is a good person that came from a good home. Every defendant has an opportunity to submit character reference letters that may make an impression on the judge. The letter should be brief while giving all of the important information. Open letter to president barack obama on clemency june 21, 2016 unless president obama personally intervenes to break a bureaucratic logjam, his clemency initiative will fall far short of granting the number of commutations for which people in prison are eligible.
The letter is commonly provided in child custody andor drunk driving dui occurrences but may be used in any situation needed where the court should hear about the personality and reputation of the defendant in order to have. The character reference for court is to provide the judge a family member, friend, or coworker with a written statement on the defendants moral or mental qualities. Thats why you should personalize this letter as one coming from you, and why you would like to see justice served by encouraging the president to grant clemency or if writing the pardon attorney to ask that he submit a favorable recommendation to the president to grant the prisoners clemency petition. Pardons for federal crimes are issued by the president of the united. Writing a letter before sentencing is a way to tell a judge that the criminal defendant is a good person who deserves a light sentence. Pardons for federal crimes are issued by the president of the united states. If you plead not guilty by mail, youll most likely be required. Oct 12, 2008 clemency letters essentially as pleas for mercy, they will need overwhelmingly good reasons to grant that mercy. Let the judge know that you are aware of the charges against the defendant. However, in most cases, writing a speeding ticket appeal letter does not require the services of a lawyer.
How to write a letter to a judge before sentencing with pictures. Open letter to president barack obama on clemency the. Complete and forward one 1 copy of the notice of clemency applicationsentencing form to the judge, prosecuting attorney, sheriff and police chief located within the county or counties of the applicants convictions. Sample letter to a judge there are number of occasions when you have to write a letter to judge. I am shaken by how difficult this letter is for me to write. I was told that you may need it to better understand my little brother. If the request is denied, the next step is to request clemency from your branchs clemency and parole board. Request to the judge to reject the plea bargain in the case plea bargains are an everyday part of the american criminal justice system. Free character reference letter for court template. You may be able to find examples of letters that people have written for. For example as a crime victim or victim advocate you may want to write a letter to the judge in the criminal court case. This shows you are serious about the matter and it gives the judge more time to consider it. When asked to write a clemency support letter to enhance a marijuana prisoners clemency petition, a lot of people feel at a loss with no idea what to say in order to be effective and help. Dec 19, 2019 sample of a pardon or apology letter to the judge.
Letters of leniency are written to a judge when an individual is facing sentencing. Oct 12, 2008 how to write an effective clemency letterposted on 101208, 10. In 2011, after serving 14 years, he applied to president obama for clemency, filing all the paperwork himself. The guidelines for executive clemency give more detailed information on what. A letter of leniency to a judge should be treated as a formal business letter and should be written in a manner that reflects this. In this case, a celebrity whose fans have taken decided to make a petition on her behalf. August 17, 2018, norman hile responds for kevin cooper. The letters should be sent by certified mail, so the sender has proof of the time and date the letter was sent and received. Explain carefully why you feel the person you are writing the letter for should be granted mercy.
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