Posted on 08/11/2007 8:22:23 AM PDT by Excuse_My_Bellicosity
Denver -- Court documents show Colorado's top federal judge was too drunk to remember how he spent more than $3,000 at a strip club in two consecutive days.
He also used an Internet dating service while he was married.
Judge Edward Nottingham is the chief federal judge in Colorado and he is held to the highest standards of personal and professional conduct. Nottingham recently presided over the insider trading trial of ex-Qwest Communications CEO Joseph Nacchio.
Nottingham married his wife, Marcie Jaeger, on one of the most romantic days of the year – Valentine's Day 2004. The marriage ended after Jaeger found credit card charges from a strip club in downtown Denver totaling more than $3,000 in two consecutive days.
In the couple's divorce case in Eagle County district court last month, Nottingham was questioned about the credit card charges.
Nottingham testified, "I'm ashamed and mortified just telling you that is the Diamond Cabaret ... a topless establishment."
Asked how he could have spent so much money, Nottingham testified he could not recall, explaining, "I had had a lot to drink … and I don't remember."
Our partners at KUSA 9NEWS showed the transcripts to 9NEWS Legal Analyst Scott Robinson.
"Judge Nottingham had at least one lost night at the Diamond Cabaret and of course that goes to the question of whether that is acting with at least the appearance of impropriety," Robinson said, "contrary to the code of conduct for federal judges."
Nottingham also testified about credit card charges for a Web site called IPayFriendFinder.com.
Jaeger testified that she originally thought it was a dating service.
"When I asked about the dating service he turned around in his chambers and he hit his computer and he told me all about the dating service," Jaeger said in court. "It was a porn site."
During his testimony, Nottingham called Friend Finder, "A dating site – an Internet dating site."
When asked in court about a $150 charge to IPayFriendFinder.com, Nottingham said, "I'm embarrassed to be even talking about this. I think you pay extra to get certain features, such as if you upload a picture or – I don't even recall."
Under the U.S. Constitution, federal judges are appointed for life by the president of the United States. They are supposed to follow an official code of conduct, which contains this explanation:
"Public confidence in the judiciary is eroded by irresponsible or improper conduct by judges. A judge must avoid all impropriety and appearance of impropriety. A judge must expect to be the subject of constant public scrutiny. A judge must therefore accept restrictions that might be viewed as burdensome by the ordinary citizen and should do so freely and willingly. The prohibition against behaving with impropriety or the appearance of impropriety applies to both the professional and personal conduct of a judge."
According to Robinson, as a federal judge Nottingham can be removed from the bench only for high crimes, misdemeanors, treason or bribery.
The most average man on the street is better than the men at the top.
The good judge was an appointee of GHW Bush.
Here’s the URL for further info on his “off the bench” activities.
(WARNING: Adult topics)
http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_6598184
While the judge could be more discrete, it sounds like some of the press
he’s getting slammed after some high-profile cases.
Particularly in government, where rising to the top often has little to do with merit.
I’ve known of several federal judges who had serious drinking problems. One, in Houston, was a familiar figure on the street trying to get back to the courthouse after drinking lunch. He couldn’t hold court in the afternoon. Another, quite a few years ago was drunk out of his mind when he drove the wrong way on a street and killed someone. After a little press coverage it disappeared and nothing happened to him. There should be a judicial standards board made up of people with no connection to the legal profession or government office.
[E]lections amount to no more than choosing between the scum that floats to the top of the barrel and the dregs that settle to the bottom.
- L. Neil Smith
He was just making a donation to the local single mothers group, very charitable of him I would say.
We’ve all heard the old and somewhat puzzling expression, “sober as a judge.”
Potential AIDS candidate.
FR should have a separate category for drunken govt. officials.
This guy is headed for complete and total disaster.
How much does 3000 buy at a stripjoint anyway?
Hope somebody was taking pictures for his scrap book.
Is this th4e saem place? http://www.diamondscabaret.com/
“Not guilty” didn’t sink in right away, though it certainly should have. I blame this.
It's likely that the skank whores and bartenders just kept hitting his credit card knowing that he was too drunk to care.
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