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Bobbi C. Sternheim

Maxwell's lead defense counsel; Top Secret/SCI clearance; Tartaglione curcio counsel

Court Filing

Also known as: Bobbi Sternheim

According to DOJ-released documents indexed by Epstein Exposed, Bobbi C. Sternheim appears in 58 case documents in the Epstein files.

Federal criminal defense attorney and lead defense counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell during her 2021-2022 sex trafficking trial. Holds Top Secret/SCI security clearance. Mentioned in 171 Epstein-related documents. Shortly after Epstein's death in August 2019, Sternheim was appointed as curcio counsel to the defense team of Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein's cellmate during the first reported suicide attempt at the Metropolitan Correctional Center. She is a partner at Fischetti, Gelberg, David, Mirra & Sternheim LLP in New York, specializing in complex federal criminal defense, national security cases, and terrorism-related matters.

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Bobbi C. Sternheim is mentioned in documents or reporting related to the Epstein case. Being mentioned does not imply any wrongdoing, criminal conduct, or inappropriate behavior.

AI-Generated Dossier
High evidence92% confidence

This dossier was generated by AI (Claude) from court filings, government releases, and other documentary sources in our database. It may contain errors or misattributions. Always verify claims against the linked source documents.

Background

Bobbi C. Sternheim is a federal criminal defense attorney based in New York City. She operated the Law Offices of Bobbi C. Sternheim, with offices at 33 West 19th Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10011, and later at 225 Broadway, Suite 715, New York, NY 10007. Her practice focused on complex federal criminal defense, and she is described as holding a Top Secret/SCI security clearance, specializing in national security cases and terrorism-related matters. She is also associated with the firm Fischetti, Gelberg, David, Mirra & Sternheim LLP.

Sternheim served as one of the lead defense attorneys for Ghislaine Maxwell during her federal sex trafficking prosecution in the Southern District of New York (Case No. 20 Cr. 330, before Judge Alison J. Nathan). She was part of a defense team that included Mark S. Cohen and Christian R. Everdell of Cohen & Gresser LLP, and Jeffrey S. Pagliuca and Laura A. Menninger of Haddon, Morgan and Foreman, P.C. Sternheim was notably prolific in her filings, authoring numerous letters and motions to the court on Maxwell's behalf, particularly regarding detention conditions at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC), discovery access, and trial procedures.

After Maxwell's conviction and sentencing on June 28, 2022, Sternheim filed the notice of appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. She subsequently sought to be relieved as appellate counsel, a motion that was opposed by the U.S. Attorney's office.

Epstein Connection

Bobbi C. Sternheim's connection to the Epstein case is through her role as defense counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime associate who was charged and convicted of sex trafficking and conspiracy offenses in the Southern District of New York. Sternheim was one of five named attorneys who represented Maxwell throughout her pretrial detention, trial (November-December 2021), sentencing (June 2022), and the initial stages of appeal. She appeared in 171 Epstein-related documents, predominantly court filings, discovery correspondence, and trial stipulations. Additionally, shortly after Epstein's death in August 2019, Sternheim was appointed as curcio counsel to the defense team of Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein's cellmate during the first reported suicide attempt at the Metropolitan Correctional Center.

Key Allegations(11)

Served as defense counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell in her federal sex trafficking case (20 Cr. 330) in the Southern District of New York

documented

Filed extensive correspondence with the court alleging that the Metropolitan Detention Center subjected Maxwell to harsh and unjustified conditions including de facto solitary confinement, sleep deprivation from 15-minute flashlight surveillance, unsanitary living conditions, inadequate medical care, and placement on suicide watch without justification

documented

Reported to the court that MDC guards confiscated and reviewed Ghislaine Maxwell's confidential legal documents and intimidated her after a legal conference with her attorneys

documented

Raised concerns about MDC interference with attorney-client communication, including a unilateral change from WebEx to Zoom for video teleconferences and concerns about confidentiality and potential recording

documented

Objected to the government's filing of a second superseding indictment, characterizing it as 'tactical gamesmanship' that complicated the case and prejudiced Maxwell's rights

documented

Filed Maxwell's appeal of her conviction and sentence to the Second Circuit following the guilty verdict and sentencing on June 28, 2022

documented

Subsequently sought to be relieved as continued counsel on appeal in the Maxwell case, a motion opposed by the U.S. Attorney's office

documented

Argued that the MDC's objection to the court order allowing Maxwell to use a laptop on weekends and holidays was unfounded, asserting Maxwell needed the laptop to review millions of pages of discovery materials

documented

Argued for individual sequestered voir dire and limited counsel-conducted voir dire in Maxwell trial, citing extensive media coverage and potential for juror bias

documented

Filed motion to dismiss the superseding indictment arguing it breached a non-prosecution agreement, as part of the defense team

documented

Responded to letter from Juror 50's counsel regarding the juror's intention to assert Fifth Amendment privilege, requesting a proffer explaining the basis for this assertion

documented
Legal Status
none

Bobbi C. Sternheim is not a subject, target, or defendant in any Epstein-related legal proceeding. She served exclusively in a professional capacity as defense counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell in United States v. Ghislaine Maxwell, 20 Cr. 330 (AJN), S.D.N.Y.

Cases:20 Cr. 330 (AJN)21-77021-58
Notable Statements(3)

Filed letter describing Maxwell's conditions as 'Pretrial Punishment,' including being placed on suicide watch without justification and being held in de facto solitary confinementd-276

Characterized the government's filing of a second superseding indictment as 'tactical gamesmanship' that complicated the case and prejudiced Maxwell's rightsd-477

Argued that the MDC's 'overmanagement' of Maxwell's detention was detrimental to her well-being and ability to prepare for triald-869
Contradictions(2)
Public Claim

Sternheim's letters alleged that MDC conditions were uniquely harsh and unjustified, constituting 'Pretrial Punishment' of Maxwell

Documentary Evidence

The government responded to Maxwell's conditions complaints, and the court in at least one instance denied Sternheim's request for Maxwell to access legal papers in the cellblock, citing a 'generally applicable policy prohibiting inmates from possessing materials in the Courthouse cellblocks,' suggesting some conditions were standard rather than targeted

Public Claim

Sternheim alleged MDC guards confiscated and reviewed Maxwell's confidential legal documents and intimidated her

Documentary Evidence

The MDC made counter-allegations of misconduct by Maxwell's counsel during a legal visit, which Sternheim disputed in a subsequent letter

Key Relationships(11)

Served as defense counsel for Ghislaine Maxwell throughout her federal criminal case, pretrial detention, trial, sentencing, and initial appeal. Appeared in 318 shared documents.

Laura Menningerprofessional

Co-counsel on Maxwell defense team. Laura Menninger of Haddon, Morgan and Foreman P.C. appeared on filings alongside Sternheim and was included in discovery correspondence. 166 shared documents.

Co-counsel on Maxwell defense team. Jeffrey S. Pagliuca of Haddon, Morgan and Foreman P.C. appeared alongside Sternheim on trial stipulations, motions, and filings. 174 shared documents.

Co-counsel on Maxwell defense team. Christian R. Everdell of Cohen & Gresser LLP appeared alongside Sternheim on trial stipulations and motions. 107 shared documents.

Mark Cohenprofessional

Co-counsel on Maxwell defense team. Mark S. Cohen of Cohen & Gresser LLP appeared on filings alongside Sternheim. 115 shared documents.

Alison J. Nathan was the presiding U.S. District Judge before whom Sternheim appeared throughout the Maxwell case. Sternheim addressed numerous letters and motions to Judge Nathan. 110 shared documents.

Jeffrey Epstein's conduct was central to the criminal case against Sternheim's client Ghislaine Maxwell. Sternheim also served as curcio counsel to the defense team of Nicholas Tartaglione, Epstein's cellmate. 107 shared documents.

David Oscar Markusprofessional

David Oscar Markus appeared as counsel of record on Maxwell's renewed motion for pretrial release in the Second Circuit. 11 shared documents.

Leah S. Saffianprofessional

Leah S. Saffian appeared alongside the defense team on Maxwell's appellate bail motion filings. 10 shared documents.

Sternheim responded to issues related to Juror Number 50, including the juror's assertion of Fifth Amendment privilege after trial. 10 shared documents.

Damian Williams, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, was the lead prosecutor's office representative in the case. Appeared in trial stipulations alongside Sternheim. 33 shared documents.

Timeline(20 events)

Sternheim sends email regarding Ghislaine Maxwell (02879-509) from her remote office during COVID-19 closure of West 19th Street office

2020-12-04d-6819

Maxwell's defense team, including Sternheim, submits request for release on bail with proposed conditions

2020-12-18d-718

Court filing listing Sternheim among Maxwell's attorneys (along with Cohen, Everdell, Pagliuca, and Menninger)

2021-01-25d-236

Defense team including Sternheim files motion for severance and separate trial for Counts Five and Six of the Superseding Indictment

2021-04d-856

Sternheim requests trial continuance in the interests of justice ahead of an arraignment scheduled for April 23rd

Sternheim files letter with the court regarding Maxwell's conditions at Metropolitan Detention Center

Government proposes trial date of November 29, 2021, and Sternheim is consulted on scheduling; discusses availability noting a civil trial scheduled for December 13th

Discovery correspondence between defense (including Sternheim) and government regarding supplementary production and discovery deficiencies

Continued discovery exchanges and conferral regarding photo and other discovery deficiencies, including file format issues

Government sends notice to defense counsel including Sternheim regarding anticipated testimony from FBI Computer Forensic Examiner

Government notifies defense including Sternheim of certain evidence it may introduce at trial, including proposed exhibits GX 401-404, 409-410, and 413

Request filed for a party to be added to ECF as 'movant' in the Maxwell case

2021-11d-1353

Sternheim argues for individual sequestered voir dire and against exercising challenges to the final venire on November 19, advocating for November 29 instead

2021-11d-1490

Sternheim writes to Judge Nathan regarding late delivery of government disclosures to Maxwell at MDC, with trial starting in two weeks

Trial of Ghislaine Maxwell proceeds; stipulations entered into evidence with consent of defense attorneys including Sternheim regarding deposition transcripts from 2009

2022-03-02d-1809

Sternheim writes to Judge Nathan responding to Juror 50's counsel letter regarding the juror's intention to assert Fifth Amendment privilege, requesting a proffer

2022-06-28d-411

Maxwell sentenced; Sternheim files notice of appeal to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals

2022d-1879

Sternheim submits letter as Exhibit K to Maxwell's Sentencing Memorandum from an MDC inmate with positive impressions of Maxwell

2022d-1802

Sternheim proposes limited redactions to a sealed Opinion and Order in the Maxwell case

2022d-1049

Sternheim seeks to be relieved as continued counsel on appeal; motion opposed by U.S. Attorney's office

At a Glance

Click values for sources
0
Flight appearances
Document mentions
Various sources
Known connections
1 strong | 2 weak
No
Black book entry
Evidence Types
Court Filing

Network Graph

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Known Connections (3)

External Cross-Check

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Document Mentions

This dossier on Bobbi C. Sternheim was compiled from court records, flight logs, and public documents. 100% free, ad-free, and independent.