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How to Address a Letter to a Judge. Follow these steps to correspond effectively with
the person who has the power to swing the gavel. You will need Pen and paper or computer
and printer Judge's name Court's address Case number and case name (optional). Step 1. Write
the date, your name, and your address at the top right corner. Step 2. Write the judge's
name and the court's address along the left margin, beneath your own. Use the title "Honorable"
before the judge's name -- for instance, "Honorable John Smith." Step 3. Open your letter with
"Dear Honorable John Smith," "Dear Judge John Smith," or "Your Honor." Step 4. State your
purpose for writing the judge very clearly in the first sentence. Keep the letter brief
and to the point -- a maximum of one page is ideal. Write the letter in the language
you know best, as most judges have interpreters available to them. Step 5. Include the case
number to which you are referring and be sure to sign your name to the letter. Refer to
the case using the parties involved, such as "People vs. Name of Defendant," if you
don't know the case number. Step 6. Don't present evidence in your letter. Most judges
will stop reading and you will fail to get your point across. Did you know Two court
systems exist in the U.S. -- federal court and state court. State courts have the broadest
jurisdiction.