Judge's behavior targeted in new complaint

DENVER – Federal Judge Edward Nottingham's private life has become the target of private individuals complaining about his public work following a string of 9Wants to Know investigations into his behavior away from the bench.

Sean Harrington filed a complaint with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in January. Harrington was complaining about Judge Nottingham's ruling in Harrington's case. Harrington heads a local legal technology firm.

Included in that complaint was a listing of 9Wants to Know investigations into Judge Nottingham and complaints that his behavior is unbecoming a judge.

Harrington's complaint alleges that the judge "brought disrepute to the judiciary" by testifying in his divorce case that he spent more than $3,000 at a strip club over two days. He then admitted on the stand that he was too drunk to remember how he had spent the money.

9Wants to Know's reports on his admissions in August 2007 prompted an investigation by the Court of Appeals.

In September, 9Wants to Know uncovered a second complaint filed against Judge Nottingham. This case involved a disabled woman who complained that Judge Nottingham had parked illegally in a van accessible parking spot and threatened to call the U.S. Marshal's when she blocked him from leaving.

The woman, Jeanne Elliott, has been interviewed by an FBI agent hired by the court to investigate her complaint. She has received no notice of an outcome in the investigation.

9Wants to Know reported on March 7 a third investigation into Judge Nottingham after it was revealed that he is named as a client of the Denver Players Escort service. The service is under investigation by the IRS and Denver Police Department for suspected tax evasion. Investigators say the service was a front for prostitution.

This week, 10th U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge Robert Henry agreed to investigate the second part of Harrington's complaint that involved his out-of-court behavior. Judge Henry refused to investigate the first part of Harrington's complaint regarding Judge Nottingham's ruling in his case before the court.