A character letter to a judge should establish your credibility, paint a full picture of the defendant and be respectful, among other things. Sample Format for a Character Letter.If you have been asked to write a character letter, this simple template may be a useful guide. Defend a friend or family member's moral character in court. Use our Character Reference Letter for Court template to easily write your document. What parents and witnesses need to know about character reference letters to the court for child custody. Includes a downloadable sample and template. 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. Introduce yourself in the opening paragraph.