Quick Read
- Nick Reiner’s high-profile attorney, Alan Jackson, dramatically withdrew from his double-murder case on January 7, 2026.
- Reiner is charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the alleged stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, on December 14, 2025.
- The arraignment has been postponed to February 23, 2026, with public defenders now representing Reiner.
- Sources indicate Reiner, 32, was diagnosed with schizophrenia and had medication adjusted shortly before the alleged killings.
- Prosecutors may seek the death penalty, a decision still pending, while a potential insanity defense is being explored.
In a dramatic turn of events that sent ripples through Hollywood and the legal world, Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of legendary filmmaker Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner, saw his high-profile attorney, Alan Jackson, withdraw from his double-murder case on January 7, 2026. This sudden departure, announced during Reiner’s second appearance in Los Angeles County Superior Court, has cast a new light on the unfolding legal battle surrounding the alleged brutal killings of his parents.
The hearing, presided over by Judge Theresa McGonigle, was initially set for Reiner’s arraignment, where he was to be formally charged in the deaths of his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother. However, Jackson’s unexpected request ‘to be removed’ from the case preempted this crucial step. The arraignment has now been postponed to February 23, setting the stage for public defenders to take the reins in a case that carries the gravest of potential consequences.
A Sudden Legal Shift in a High-Stakes Case
The courtroom on January 7 was a scene of intense media scrutiny, with over 100 reporters and camera crews gathered. Nick Reiner, shackled and wearing dark jail garb with ‘LA County Jail’ emblazoned on the back, was led into a dimly lit, dark-glassed room. Unlike his initial appearance in December, he was notably without a suicide prevention vest, a detail observed by USA TODAY reporters. He briefly spoke with Jackson and two other attorneys through a partition, his face showing noticeable stubble and his hair closely shorn.
Outside the courtroom, Alan Jackson, known for representing high-profile figures like Kevin Spacey and Harvey Weinstein, addressed the media with a cryptic yet defiant statement. He asserted he ‘had to withdraw’ from the case due to ‘circumstances beyond my control’ and ‘more importantly for circumstances beyond Nick’s control.’ Jackson then declared, unequivocally, ‘What we have 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. Print that. And we wish him the very best.’
His successor, public defender Kimberly Greene, also spoke briefly, admitting she only learned of Jackson’s withdrawal on Tuesday and had a mere ’30 seconds’ conversation with Reiner that morning. Despite the abrupt change, Reiner reportedly ‘was understanding that there would be a change in counsel.’ When asked by the judge if he agreed to postpone the arraignment, Reiner’s only spoken words were a soft, ‘Yeah, I agree to that,’ before being led away.
Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman, speaking to reporters, downplayed the significance of the lawyer switch, noting it was ‘not uncommon.’ Hochman’s office, which announced on December 16 that Reiner is charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a ‘special circumstance’ for allegedly committing multiple murders, remains ‘fully confident that a jury will convict Nick Reiner beyond a reasonable doubt of the brutal murder of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner.’ The ‘special circumstance’ opens the door for prosecutors to seek the death penalty, a decision that could take months to finalize.
The Shadow of Mental Health and Legal Precedent
As the legal proceedings unfold, a crucial element emerging is Nick Reiner’s mental health history. According to two sources who spoke to The Los Angeles Times in December, Reiner was reportedly being treated for schizophrenia and had his medication ‘changed or adjusted’ shortly before the deaths of his parents. NBC News, citing three sources, corroborated that Reiner had been diagnosed with a ‘serious psychiatric disorder’ years ago and was undergoing treatment at the time of the alleged crime. The exact drug and timeline of adjustments, however, remain undisclosed.
Further underscoring this aspect, The Los Angeles Times reported earlier 911 calls to the Reiner home for welfare checks and mental health-related services in 2019. While these calls were initially deemed ‘innocuous,’ they could now loom large as the defense potentially explores an insanity plea. Legal experts, such as clinical and forensic psychiatrist Saul Faerstein, emphasize the importance of piecing together Reiner’s mental state in the days leading up to the killings. Faerstein noted that even actions like checking into a hotel or traveling across Los Angeles, as Reiner did before his arrest, ‘don’t require a lot of cognitive function, and they can be done even in a delusional state.’
The possibility of an ‘insanity defense’ introduces a complex legal pathway. If Reiner were found ‘not guilty by reason of insanity,’ he would likely be committed to a mental health facility rather than being released. As attorney Levenson explained to The Los Angeles Times, it’s ‘way too early to say that this is an all or nothing case,’ suggesting other options beyond a straight guilty or not guilty verdict. California has seen cases where mental health factors led to reduced charges or findings of not guilty by reason of insanity. For instance, Bryn Spejcher was convicted of involuntary manslaughter in 2023 due to cannabis-induced psychosis, and Jennifer Lynn Bigham was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2010 after drowning her daughter, later being released after treatment.
Charges, Consequences, and a Family’s Grief
The charges against Nick Reiner are severe: two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance of multiple murders, alongside a special allegation of using a dangerous and deadly weapon. These charges carry a maximum sentence of life without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. While District Attorney Hochman’s office has not yet committed to seeking capital punishment, the option remains on the table.
The Reiner family, including Nick’s siblings Romy and Jake Reiner, responded to the latest developments through a spokesperson, stating they ‘have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings,’ as reported by USA TODAY. Following their parents’ deaths on December 14, 2025, Romy and Jake had released a statement to TMZ and People, expressing ‘unimaginable pain’ and requesting privacy and compassion. The elder Rob Reiner, a beloved figure in entertainment, was celebrated for directing classics like ‘When Harry Met Sally’ and ‘A Few Good Men,’ and for his iconic role as Michael ‘Meathead’ Stivic on ‘All in the Family,’ a legacy now tragically overshadowed by this family ordeal.
The alleged stabbings occurred in the early morning of December 14 at the Reiners’ Brentwood home. Nick Reiner, who lived in a guesthouse on the property, was arrested that evening approximately 15 miles away near the University of Southern California campus. His initial arraignment on December 17 saw him appear behind a glass wall, wearing a blue, padded suicide-prevention vest, with Alan Jackson successfully requesting the January 7 extension due to the case’s ‘very complex’ nature. Jackson had then called for public ‘restraint and with dignity,’ urging against a ‘rush to judgment.’
The withdrawal of a high-profile lawyer, coupled with the emerging mental health narrative, suggests a legal battle that will deeply scrutinize the defendant’s state of mind at the time of the alleged crime. This shift from a prominent private defense to public representation, set against a backdrop of severe charges and potential capital punishment, underscores the profound legal and ethical challenges ahead, transforming a family tragedy into a pivotal test of the justice system’s capacity to grapple with mental illness in capital cases.