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Employer character letter for court: sample from a manager

A manager writes for an employee facing a drug charge. Employer letters carry weight because they speak to reliability and to the job waiting after sentencing.

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The sample letter

All names and details below are fictional.

Dear Judge Ramirez,

My name is Karen Whitfield, and I am the operations manager at Northside Plumbing Supply in Aurora, Colorado. Jordan Ellis has worked on my team as a delivery driver and warehouse lead for four years, and I supervise him directly.

I am aware of the charge Jordan is facing and I take it seriously. Jordan came to me himself, before I heard about it from anyone else, and told me what had happened and that he was getting help.

In four years Jordan has missed two shifts, both for a family funeral, and he has trained six of our newer employees. Last winter, when a pipe burst at a customer’s home over a holiday weekend, he was the one who volunteered to drive the parts out at night so a family with a newborn would have heat.

Since his arrest Jordan has completed an outpatient treatment program, attends meetings twice a week, and has not missed a single day of work. His position remains open to him, and I would welcome him back.

I respectfully ask the Court to consider Jordan’s record as an employee and the steps he has taken. Please feel free to contact me directly.

Respectfully,

Karen Whitfield, Operations Manager, Northside Plumbing Supply
(303) 555-0119 · kwhitfield@example.com

Why this letter works

  • Title and supervision. She states her role and that she supervises him directly — so the judge knows her view is first-hand.
  • Reliability in numbers. Two missed shifts in four years and six people trained are facts, not opinions.
  • He told her himself. Showing that the employee was honest with his employer is a quiet, powerful signal of accountability.
  • The job is still there. Stable employment after sentencing is something judges weigh. Only say it if it is true.

Tips for your own letter

  • Write on company letterhead if you can, and sign with your title.
  • Stick to what you have seen at work: attendance, trust, responsibility, how they treat coworkers and customers.
  • Only say the job will be held open if you have actually decided that.
  • Offer to be contacted — it shows you stand behind the letter.

What never to put in the letter

  • That the person is innocent, or anything about the evidence.
  • Blame for the victim, the police, or anyone else.
  • A request for a specific sentence, unless the attorney asks for it.
  • Private details: addresses, dates of birth, account numbers, children’s names.

More sample letters

Write yours in about 3 minutes

We start from this page’s situation — just check a few boxes and add one true story.

1 · You
2 · What you've seen
3 · Your story
4 · Your letter

Let's start with you.

There are no wrong answers, and you can change anything later.

Who are you to them?
What is the case about? (pick the closest — "Not sure" is fine)

Tell us about them.

Only what you know to be true — a judge can tell the difference.

What are they like? (optional — only choose what you know is true)
What have they done since the arrest? (judges weigh this — only check what's true)
About you — for the opening line and signature (optional, you can add it later)
How will you support them after release? (housing, a job, rides — the board looks for this)

The moment you'd want the judge to see.

One true memory does more than any list of good qualities. Small, everyday moments are often the most powerful.

What have you seen them do? (optional, but it's the heart of the letter)
Write it the way you'd tell a friend. Details help: who, where, what they did. Please don't write about the case itself — we'll handle that part carefully.
Looking ahead, how will you stand by them? (optional — judges look for a real support system)
Does anyone depend on them? (optional)

Here is the beginning of your letter.

What we did for you

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    Questions people ask

    Does my company need to approve the letter?

    Check your company’s policy. Some employers ask managers to write as individuals rather than on behalf of the company.

    Should I mention the employee’s salary?

    No. Describe responsibilities and reliability instead.

    Last reviewed 2026-09-28. This page is general information, not legal advice. It follows published guidance from federal defender offices and federal courts, including:

    How we use these sources and test our letters: about CharacterLetter.com.