"Learn how to craft an effective character reference letter for court proceedings with our comprehensive guide. Include specific examples of how the person has helped you or someone else, or how he or she has been a leader or an inspiration.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? In this article, we will discuss how to write a formal letter to a judge, along with the proper format and a sample letter. A character letter to a judge should establish your credibility, paint a full picture of the defendant and be respectful, among other things. At the start of the letter, introduce yourself and explain how you know the defendant. 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.