United States v. Yates

Michael Yates (defendant), charged with bank robbery, signed a confession but later claimed he did not know what he was signing and did not commit the robbery; when the prosecution sought to have the confession read aloud at trial, the judge declined the specific request but told the jury directly, 'It is clear in the record . . . that [Yates] did admit his participation in this bank robbery.' Yates was convicted and appealed, arguing the judge's comment was reversible error.