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. The goal of character reference letters is to tell the judge a story. To give the judge insight into a defendant as a person. 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. Defend a friend or family member's moral character in court.