United States v. Beaty

At Beaty and Ballouz's (defendants') joint drug-smuggling trial, the judge questioned a government witness to rehabilitate her testimony at a sensitive moment and repeatedly rebuked defense counsel within the jury's hearing (affecting Beaty), while separately conducting extended hostile questioning specifically targeting Ballouz's key defense witness in a manner seemingly designed to attack her credibility (affecting Ballouz); both were convicted and appealed, claiming the judge's conduct prejudiced their trials.