Defend a friend or family member's moral character in court. Use our Character Reference Letter for Court template to easily write your document.The introduction should state who you are, how long you've known the individual, and why you feel the need to make this recommendation to the court. Character references for an individual that will be before a Judge can take the form of a letter to the Judge (Dear Hon. The goal of character reference letters is to tell the judge a story. To give the judge insight into a defendant as a person. Sample Format for a Character Letter. If you have been asked to write a character letter, this simple template may be a useful guide. What parents and witnesses need to know about character reference letters to the court for child custody. Includes a downloadable sample and template.