As reported by local Denver media, Colorado’s top federal judge likes to party.

Now the FBI is involved, and so are allegations of violations of the Judicial Code of Conduct.

Without getting into the sordid details, recently filed court documents show Colorado’s top federal judge, Judge Edward Nottingham, was too drunk to remember how he spent more than $3,000 at a strip club in two consecutive days. He also reportedly perused some very inappropriate Internet sites at work.

Judge Nottingham, who is is going through a divorce currently after his wife found the credit card charges from the Diamond Cabaret, recently presided over the insider trading trial of ex-Qwest Communications CEO Joseph Nacchio.

When asked in divorce court how he could have spent so much money, Judge Nottingham testified he could not recall, explaining, “I had had a lot to drink … and I don’t remember.”

The FBI has now gotten involved, looking into possible improper use of his federal computer.

Some are pointing out that Judge Nottingham appears to have violated the Judicial Code of Conduct and thereby may have to step aside. According to the code…

“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.”

Just a few weeks ago, Nottingham was presiding over the sentencing of Nacchio, in which he pointed out at great length how no one was above the law: “If it is perceived that there is one law for the rich and one law for everyone else, the law ultimately falls into disrespect.”

This is an unfortunate turn of events for the judge, who had been profiled by the Rocky Mountain News just a few months earlier as a “no nonsense” straight shooter.

Commentary: For those inquiring minds that need to know more…. go check out one of our favorite blogs, www.loweringthebar.net, where they try and decipher exactly how the judge could have blown $3,000 in two days and decide that it must have been roughly 20 hours of non-stop lap dances.