Defense lawyer withdraws as Nick Reiner arraignment delayed in parents’ murder case
At a Jan. 7 hearing, high‑profile defense attorney Alan Jackson formally withdrew from representing Nick Reiner, who did not enter a plea and whose arraignment was rescheduled for Feb. 23; the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, with Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene, has been appointed to represent him. Reiner is held without bail on first‑degree murder charges with special‑circumstance allegations in the killings of filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner — the medical examiner said they died of multiple sharp‑force injuries — and prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, though the district attorney says he is confident a jury will convict.
📌 Key Facts
- Defense attorney Alan Jackson formally withdrew from Nick Reiner’s case at a Jan. 7, 2026 hearing, saying he had “no choice,” calling the decision painful and citing “circumstances beyond our control” and legal/ethical limits on what he could explain; outside court Jackson also said, “pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”
- The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has taken over representation and Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene was appointed to represent Reiner going forward.
- Reiner did not enter a plea at his Dec. 17 first appearance and did not enter a plea at the Jan. 7 hearing; his arraignment was delayed and rescheduled for Feb. 23, 2026 (earlier coverage had said an arraignment was expected Jan. 7).
- Reiner is being held without bail.
- He faces first-degree murder charges with special‑circumstance allegations—including multiple murders and use of a knife—and prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty; Los Angeles County DA Nathan Hochman said he is “fully confident” a jury will unanimously convict.
- The victims are identified as filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner; the medical examiner found they died from multiple sharp‑force injuries.
- A judge approved cameras in the courtroom but barred showing Reiner at the hearing (and may continue to limit photographs of the defendant).
- Coverage included background context on the prosecution and defendant: Deputy DA Habib Balian has handled prior high‑profile cases, and reporting noted Nick Reiner’s past public discussions of addiction and mental‑health struggles following the film Being Charlie.
📊 Relevant Data
In a study of 163 family mass murder incidents in the US from 2006-2017, 92% of the offenders were male, while males comprise about 49% of the US population.
An Exploration of Family Mass Murder Offenders - Diaz et al. (2022) — Journal of Mass Violence Research
In the same study, 23% of family mass murder incidents involved reported mental illness of the offender, with the rate rising to 45% for offenders who killed direct family members such as parents.
An Exploration of Family Mass Murder Offenders - Diaz et al. (2022) — Journal of Mass Violence Research
In the study, female family mass murder offenders were significantly more likely to have reported mental illness (64%) compared to male offenders (20%).
An Exploration of Family Mass Murder Offenders - Diaz et al. (2022) — Journal of Mass Violence Research
According to FBI data for 2019, there were 344 parricide victims in the US (178 fathers and 166 mothers killed by their children), representing about 2.5% of all 13,927 murder victims that year.
Expanded Homicide Data Table 10 — FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Article specifies the victims as filmmaker Rob Reiner and photographer Michele Singer Reiner and says the medical examiner found they died from 'multiple sharp force injuries.'
- Details that Alan Jackson told the court he had 'no choice' but to withdraw, then outside said it was one of his most painful decisions as a lawyer, citing 'circumstances beyond our control' and that he is 'legally and ethically prohibited' from explaining.
- Confirms that the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office is taking over, with Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene now representing Nick Reiner.
- States that Nick Reiner is being held without bail and that his arraignment has been rescheduled to Feb. 23.
- Reports that DA Nathan Hochman said he is 'fully confident' Reiner will be found guilty and that prosecutors may seek the death penalty, though no final decision has been made.
- Provides visual details from court: Reiner appeared shackled, with a shaved head and brown jumpsuit; the judge barred cameras from showing him.
- Alan Jackson, Nick Reiner’s high-profile defense attorney, formally withdrew from the case at a January 7, 2026 hearing.
- Public defender Kimberly Greene has been appointed to represent Reiner going forward.
- Reiner did not enter a plea at the brief hearing, and the judge rescheduled his arraignment for February 23, 2026.
- Outside court, Jackson asserted that 'pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder,' despite stepping away from the case.
- LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman reiterated that he has not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty but said he is fully confident a jury will unanimously convict Reiner.
- The piece reiterates that Reiner faces first-degree murder charges with special circumstances and outlines expert commentary on the challenges of an insanity defense in California.
- Confirms arraignment and expected plea are scheduled for Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, about 3½ weeks after the killings.
- Details that a judge has approved cameras in the courtroom but may again bar photographs of the defendant, following an earlier hearing.
- Notes that Nick Reiner did not enter a plea at his Dec. 17 first appearance, where he appeared in shackles and a suicide‑prevention smock, and that his attorney Alan Jackson could seek another delay.
- Reiterates special‑circumstance allegations (multiple murders and use of a knife) and that prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
- Provides added background on Deputy DA Habib Balian’s prior high‑profile cases (Menendez resentencing attempt, Robert Durst trial) and on Nick Reiner’s past, including public discussions of addiction and mental‑health struggles after the film "Being Charlie."