If you've been asked to write to the judge, use our sample character reference letter and fill-in-the-blank template. What's a character reference letter?The character reference letter for court serves the purpose of offering the Judge insights into the Defendant's moral or mental attributes. A character letter is designed to show support for a defendant in a criminal case. These letters have the potential to influence the court. In this article, we will discuss how to write a formal letter to a judge, along with the proper format and a sample letter. Character letters are an important tool that you can use at sentencing to convince a judge that a lower sentence may be appropriate. So if you want the letter admitted, the person has to be present in court and able to be called as witness so they can be questioned about it. So if you want the letter admitted, the person has to be present in court and able to be called as witness so they can be questioned about it. Write statements that show support for the defendant and give examples of their good character. Steps.