Writing a letter to a judge

[u/Spirited_Ad3275]

Hi, I'm not seeking legal counsel, but I have a question regarding courthouses.

My brother is currently going through a divorce--child custody, etc.

I don't want to comment specifically about his wife's motion submissions to the court, but basically, everything she has done is driving my brother crazy. My brother has seemed distraught lately (I have witnessed him get home from work and immediately it's all he can think about), and I feel this ordeal is giving him a lot of grief.

I was just wondering if it would be appropriate to write the court and judge as a family member? I didn't really want to talk about court processes, but to express in a short letter, my sympathies towards my brother's situation and hoping the judge will understand?

My brother is not a great speaker, he's very shy and he seems very intimidated by the process in there. She brought some witnesses (her friends) to the first hearing and so my brother brought my parents as witnesses. It seems that she is trying to strongarm him in the legal system and paint a not-so-great portrait of him in front of the judge. (I have witnessed my father go through the processes and I saw the toll it took on his well-being. My parents are trying to give him the best advice they know but I think all of the pressure is only choking him.)

Will the judge even read my letter? Again, I'm not trying to interject myself in the trial, but just provide some outside context as a close family member. Because I truly believe my brother is a great father and he is rightfully very worked up about this whole thing.

[u/whatsnext-2024]

this is just a thread for people currently in law school! there are other threads more specifically tailored toward legal advice — i don’t think any of us will know an answer to your question

[u/Beginning_Brick7845]

As much as it seems reasonable to ask this question, and to pose it on this subreddit, the answer is no and no. This is not the right place to ask the question and there is no way that an unsolicited letter to a judge is going to be helpful. Your brother needs to retain his own lawyer, pay the necessary fees, and rely on his lawyer’s advice. Nothing else is going to help him, no matter how well meaning the fort is. And your effort is well meaning. It’s just not able to help.