You can't be honest with a judge because this is America. Our judges don't care a bit about the truth. All the care about is having easy days where they hardly do a thing. You are trying to get money from the government. The same government that employs the judge. That means if the judge doesn't completely screw you over at every opportunity, they are acting against the best interest of their employer and will be punished. Get a lawyer. It's your best shot of getting anything from these criminals.