What parents and witnesses need to know about character reference letters to the court for child custody. Includes a downloadable sample and template.Phrases that you can use include saying "I respect that a jury has found _____ guilty of _____ crime. The first paragraph should tell the judge who you are writing to him about and how you know the defendant. You'd also want to say how long you have known her. The goal of character reference letters is to tell the judge a story. To give the judge insight into a defendant as a person. Attorney explains what Character Letters are, tips for writing a great one, things you should avoid, and templates that you can use. Sample of a Character Reference Letter. Character references for an individual that will be before a Judge can take the form of a letter to the Judge (Dear Hon.