The character reference letter for court serves the purpose of offering the Judge insights into the Defendant's moral or mental attributes. Sample Format for a Character Letter.If you have been asked to write a character letter, this simple template may be a useful guide. A character letter to a judge should establish your credibility, paint a full picture of the defendant and be respectful, among other things. If you've been asked to write to the judge, use our sample character reference letter and fill-in-the-blank template. What's a character reference letter? Introduce yourself in the opening paragraph.