A character letter to a judge should establish your credibility, paint a full picture of the defendant and be respectful, among other things. A character letter is designed to show support for a defendant in a criminal case.These letters have the potential to influence the court. How To Start Your Letter. Defend a friend or family member's moral character in court. Use our Character Reference Letter for Court template to easily write your document. Introduce yourself in the opening paragraph. Forms ; Summons extra caption. PDF ; Complaint sample. I've used notarize for an online notary.