The character reference letter for court serves the purpose of offering the Judge insights into the Defendant's moral or mental attributes. Get the best tips on writing and formatting a powerful MI court character reference letter to a judge for plea negotiations and sentenceWhat parents and witnesses need to know about character reference letters to the court for child custody. Includes a downloadable sample and template. Wondering how to write a character letter for sentencing? Following a few simple rules to writing a great letter. Use the judge's title properly, but only once in the salutation. Sample Format for a Character Letter. If you have been asked to write a character letter, this simple template may be a useful guide. In this introductory portion of the character letter the author should indicate who they are, how they know the accused, and how long they've known them.