A character letter to a judge should establish your credibility, paint a full picture of the defendant and be respectful, among other things. I need a sample letter to a judge asking that my son be sentenced to mandatory rehab instead of incarceration for three for possession of cds.The letter should include the name of the court your case was filed in and the case number at the top right. Put the caption (St. v. A character letter is designed to show support for a defendant in a criminal case. These letters have the potential to influence the court. The letters are best when they come from the heart, but here are some suggestions of topics that you may want to address. The Supreme Court Commission on Access to Justice has approved the following forms. All Illinois Courts must accept these forms. Any person may file a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Board ("Board").