Alan Jackson, the high-profile attorney representing Nick Reiner, who is charged with killing his parents, has withdrawn from the case, leaving Reiner to be represented by a public defender as the proceedings move forward in Los Angeles.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday during a hearing in Los Angeles Superior Court, where Reiner was scheduled to be arraigned on two counts of first-degree murder. Instead, the arraignment was postponed, and a new date was set for February 23.
Alan Jackson is a prominent criminal defense lawyer whose past clients have included Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey. Judge Theresa McGonigle reassigned the case to Kimberly Greene of the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office.
Speaking in court, Jackson said he and his team felt they had “no choice” but to withdraw from the case, citing circumstances beyond their control. At a brief news conference afterward, Jackson maintained his client’s innocence, stating that Reiner “is not guilty of murder.”
Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman said he remains confident that prosecutors will secure a conviction, describing the killings as the “brutal murder of his parents.”
Reiner was arrested on December 14, 2025, the same day his parents, filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer and producer Michele Singer-Reiner, were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home. Authorities allege Reiner killed both victims, triggering an aggravating factor of multiple murders under California law.
If convicted, he could face life in prison without parole or the death penalty, though prosecutors have not said whether they will seek capital punishment. California Governor Gavin Newsom has maintained a moratorium on executions since 2019.
A spokesperson for the Reiner family said in a statement that they “have the utmost trust in the legal process” and declined further comment.
The public defender’s office confirmed it was notified earlier this week that it would be taking over the case. Greene told reporters she has spoken briefly with Reiner but has not had contact with his family.
Legal experts noted that changes in representation are not uncommon in complex, high-profile cases, particularly when circumstances evolve rapidly. Reiner has previously spoken publicly about struggles with substance abuse and periods of homelessness, and worked with his father on a 2016 film loosely inspired by their relationship.
Prosecutors have described the case as especially difficult due to the familial relationship between the accused and the victims, calling it one of the most emotionally challenging types of cases to prosecute.
REELated:
Nick Reiner scheduled to appear in court following parents’ deaths
