A celebrity defense lawyer just walked away from one of Hollywood’s ugliest cases, and he won’t say why. On January 7 in Los Angeles Superior Court, attorney Alan Jackson withdrew from representing Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old charged with murdering his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and producer-photographer Michele Singer Reiner.
Nick appeared in court with a shaved head and a tan jail jumpsuit. Instead of entering a plea, the court replaced Jackson with a public defender and pushed the arraignment to February 23.
Jackson then doubled down outside the courthouse. He told reporters he believes Nick is “not guilty of murder” under California law, and said his team investigated the case “top to bottom.” Still, he claimed “circumstances beyond” his and Nick’s control forced the exit, and he said legal and ethical rules stop him from explaining.
Prosecutors did not match that tone. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office feels confident a jury will convict Nick “beyond a reasonable doubt” for what he described as the “brutal murders” of Rob and Michele.
Nick faces two counts of first-degree murder, and the case includes special circumstances allegations tied to multiple murders and personal use of a knife. Those charges can carry life without parole, and prosecutors still have not announced whether they will seek the death penalty.
Authorities say Rob, 78, and Michele, 70, died from multiple sharp-force injuries at their Brentwood home on December 14, and police arrested Nick later that day. A court order has also limited the release of further medical examiner details as investigators work the case.
Now the spotlight shifts to what comes next: a new defense team, a delayed plea, and a growing public fight over what the evidence will actually show.
