United States v. Tilghman

Warren Tilghman (defendant) was charged with lying on a federal disability-benefits form by denying income from his own business, and claimed a Department of Labor employee had told him by phone he could earn up to $300 a month without reporting it. Testifying in his own defense, Tilghman was questioned extensively by the trial judge, who twice asked, skeptically, "We just have to take your word for it?" about the phone call, and remarked about his business, "It's a peculiar business where everybody stays in for years and loses money all the time." Convicted, Tilghman appealed, arguing the judge's questioning prejudiced the jury against him.