A public defender in Miami has been fired for posting a photo of her client’s underwear on Facebook.
Anya Cintron Stern snapped a photo while a Miami-Dade corrections officer inspected a bag of clothing for defendant Fermin Recalde provided by his family— including a pair of leopard-print underwear. Stern posted the pic to her Facebook profile.
“Although her Facebook page is private and can only be viewed by her friends, somebody who saw the posting notified Miami-Dade Judge Leon Firtel, who declared a mistrial,” the Miami Herald reported.
Stern, 31, was immediately fired following the report to the judge.
“When a lawyer broadcasts disparaging and humiliating words and pictures, it undermines the basic client relationship and it gives the appearance that he is not receiving a fair trial,” Miami-Dade Public Defender Carlos Martinez told the Herald.
Stern has been a lawyer since 2008. Another Facebook post on her profile allegedly questioned Recalde’s innocence.
Recalde is accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend in 2010. A new trial date has not been set.
Photo by quinn.anya/Flickr