“My team and I remain deeply, deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests,” Jackson said.
Posted on 01/08/2026 7:54:36 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Nick Reiner‘s defense attorney, Alan Jackson, told a court Wednesday that he is withdrawing from the double murder case.
Reiner, who is accused of killing his parents Rob and Michele Reiner, appeared in court for an arraignment. A deputy public defender, Kimberly Greene, took over his defense.
Reiner spoke only once, agreeing to postpone his arraignment to Feb. 23.
“Yeah, I agree,” he said.
Outside court, Jackson said he was not ethically permitted to explain the full reasons for his departure from the case, but attributed it to “circumstances beyond our control, and more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control.”
“My team and I remain deeply, deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests,” Jackson said.
Reiner’s mental state figures to be a central issue in the case, but there has been no formal indication of an insanity plea. Jackson noted that much speculation had been written about the case.
“What we’ve learned, and you can take this to the bank, is that pursuant to the laws of this state… Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,” Jackson said. “Print that. We wish him the very best moving forward.”
Nathan Hochman, the Los Angeles County district attorney, also spoke to the press outside court.
“We are fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murders of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner, and will do so unanimously,” Hochman said.
Greene and the Los Angeles County public defender, Ricardo Garcia, also spoke, saying they had learned they would be taking over the case on Tuesday. Greene said she had only spoken to Reiner for about 30 seconds, and would have to consult further with him before deciding how to proceed. She said she did not believe that Reiner’s siblings were aware of the change in representation.
A spokesperson for the Reiner family declined to comment.
“They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings,” the spokesperson said.
Reiner had previously appeared in court in a blue suicide prevention smock. On Wednesday he wore a brown jail jumpsuit and his head was shaved. He sat behind a glass screen in the large courtroom at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, occasionally standing to speak to his attorneys.
The 32-year-old faces a maximum sentence of life without parole or the death penalty for the murders of his parents. He was charged with two counts of first-degree murder with “special circumstances,” which makes the crime potentially eligible for the death penalty.
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood home around 3:40 p.m. on Dec. 14. Nick Reiner was arrested that night near the USC campus in Exposition Park, which is about 12 miles from Brentwood. He was booked on suspicion of murder the next morning and is being held without bail at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles. Jackson has worked with high-profile clients like Harvey Weinstein, Kevin Spacey and Karen Read in the past.
“Prosecuting these cases involving family members are some of the most challenging and most heart-wrenching cases that this office faces because of the intimate and often brutal nature of the crimes involved,” said Hochman said when the charges were announced.
Nick Reiner had previously discussed his struggles with addiction and homelessness and co-wrote the 2015 film “Being Charlie,” which his father directed, about his experiences.
Rob and Michele Reiner’s deaths have stunned Hollywood and the world. Rob had directed classic movies like “The Princess Bride,” “Stand by Me,” “This Is Spinal Tap,” “When Harry Met Sally,” “A Few Good Men” and more after first breaking out by playing Meathead on “All in the Family.” Many fans, filmmakers and his close friends, like Billy Crystal, Larry David and more, paid tribute to the couple.
I did not know that. So the 'kid' has been VERY troubled for a very, VERY Long time.
My guess is Rob Reiner left Nick out of his will. The kid is flat broke.
“Hey, Willie Sutton — why do you rob banks?”
“That’s where the money is.”
“Hey, Mr. Lawyer, why do you represent Hollywood hotshots?”
“That’s where the money is.”
“Yeah, but Nick Reiner has no money.”
“I’m outta here.”
It will either be life in a locked psych hospital or life at Pelican Bay.
Either way, Nicky will have only himself to blame.
Nick needs two cosigners and a certified letter from Pope Leo to pay cash.
California, like most states, has a “slayer” provision in its probate code that says a kid who kills his or her parents gets nothing even if named in the will. I think you’re right that the withdrawal was due to an inability to get paid, which is supported by the fact that a public defender was appointed. Brother and sister are probably not inclined to help with the defense of the guy who killed their parents.
Obviously Nick Reiner cannot afford Alan Jackson’s high fee.
And, doesn’t look like any member of his family - brother or sister - is stepping forward to cover it.
He’s been assigned a public attorney.
The California law won’t let him collect on any inheritance being that he murdered the one leaving him the money.
If Nick Reiner is convicted of murdering his parents, he will be ineligible to inherit from their estate due to California’s “Slayer Statute,” which prevents a murderer from benefiting from the victim’s estate. This law applies even if he is not convicted, as long as it can be proven that he intentionally killed them.
Right. Crazy or not, he's obviously guilty.
Nick's siblings will inherit and control Rob's estate. Guess they decided they won't p*ss it away on a losing effort.
And if by some wild chance Nick should go free, would the siblings feel safe?
I guess it's good to know that California still has some intelligent laws on the books.
Hollywood is the epicenter of American neo pagan, hedonistic decadence. The abominations that regularly occur there should not suprise anyone.
“My team and I remain deeply, deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests,” Jackson said.
Give it awhile, and a California Dem will propose overturning this law as “mean and judgmental.”
Have you ever noticed that in conversations with liberals, their most common retort is "You're so judgmental" (usually spoken in a lispy uptalk), as though being "judgmental" is the worst thing someone could possibly be. What they call "judgmental" just means that you have some kind of minimal standards for human conduct, both your own and that of other people. Apparently, most on the political Left find that outrageous.
Alan Jackson withdrew from Reiner’s case to continue his country music tour.
I like Alan Jackson more as a singer, good move. /sarc
“Please don’t arrange to have me sent to no asylum” -Supertramp
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl6rOU2zMoY
Next client?
I predict...
Venezuela President Maduro.
Paid for - by the Hard Left financial elite.
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