Nick Reiner’s arraignment postponed for 2nd time after attorney withdraws from murder case
Nick Reiner's attorney removes himself from case
High-profile attorney Alan Jackson is stepping down in the case of Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner's deaths. The couple's son Nick Reiner is being tried for murder and will be represented by a public defendant moving forward.
LOS ANGELES - Nick Reiner was set to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday to be formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killing of his parents, legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer-Reiner.
However, the arraignment has been pushed back for a second time after Nick Reiner's attorney, Alan Jackson, removed himself from the case.
What we know:
Jackson said the decision was beyond his and his client’s control but declined to provide further details. The case has since been handed over to the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office, with 19-year veteran Kimberly Greene serving as lead counsel.
Nick Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder with a special circumstance allegation of multiple murders and the personal use of a dangerous and deadly weapon. He also faces the death penalty if convicted on all charges.
He was formally charged with the double homicide of his parents on Dec. 16 and made his first court appearance the following day, when Jackson requested a continuance.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nick Reiner taken off suicide watch before arraignment: report
Nick Reiner court sketch on Dec. 17, 2025. / Mona Shafer Edwards (Mona Shafer Edwards)
Greene said her office received the case just one day earlier and that Wednesday marked her first opportunity to speak with Reiner, saying she spoke with him in court "for about 30 seconds." She requested the arraignment be postponed to allow time to review the evidence. Reiner agreed, responding to the judge, "Yeah, I agree with that." The arraignment was rescheduled for Feb. 23.
In court, Reiner was no longer wearing a suicide vest and appeared to smile occasionally. He remains in custody without bail.
A grisly double murder
The backstory:
Rob and Michele Reiner were found stabbed to death in their Brentwood home on Sunday, Dec. 14, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. The couple’s bodies were discovered at the home where Nick Reiner had also been living.
Investigators believe Nick killed his parents in the early morning hours before leaving the scene.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner's son, Nick, arrested on suspicion of murder
Nick did not resist when he was arrested hours later in the Exposition Park neighborhood near the University of Southern California, about 14 miles from the crime scene, police said.
Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner attend the Human Rights Campaign's 2025 Los Angeles Dinner on March 22, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rodin Eckenroth/WireImage)
The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner has since confirmed that both victims died of "multiple sharp force injuries," with the time between injury and death listed as lasting only minutes.
Last week, the coroner blocked Rob and Michele Reiner's autopsy reports under a court order which was "initiated" by the LAPD.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rob and Michele Reiner death reports suddenly sealed in mystery court order requested by LAPD
Motive under investigation
What we don't know:
Authorities have not said anything about a motive for the killings.
Outside court, Greene said the defense needs time to review the material provided by prosecutors. Jackson reiterated his belief that Reiner is not guilty, despite stepping away from the case. Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman also spoke briefly to reporters, saying his office would cooperate with the defense but that he believes a jury will convict Reiner "and do so unanimously."
Murder charges announced against Nick Reiner
The LA County District Attorney's Office will formally file murder charges against Nick Reiner for the murder of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
Timeline of events
Timeline:
Saturday, Dec. 13: The Reiner family reportedly attends a holiday party at the home of Conan O'Brien; witnesses later describe a brief but loud argument between Rob and Nick Reiner.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rob Reiner and son Nick had argument at Conan O’Brien party before parents' death, sources say
Sunday, Dec. 14 (Early Morning): Prosecutors allege Nick Reiner stabs his parents to death in their Brentwood residence.
Sunday, Dec. 14 (9:15 p.m.): Following a brief disappearance, Nick Reiner is arrested without incident near Exposition Park.
Wednesday, Dec. 17: Nick Reiner makes his first court appearance in a suicide prevention vest; his arraignment is postponed to allow for further investigation.
Wednesday, Jan. 7: Official arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. local time at the Stanley Mosk Courthouse.
Nick Reiner's hotel room found bloody: TMZ
Prosecutors charged Nick Reiner with first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents at their Brentwood home.
Nick Reiner's past personal struggles
The backstory:
The tragedy has brought Nick Reiner’s long-standing personal struggles into the spotlight.
The screenwriter, who co-wrote the 2015 film "Being Charlie" based on his own experiences, has been open about his years-long battle with drug addiction and mental health.
Nick co-wrote and Rob Reiner directed the film about the struggles of an addicted son and a famous father. It was not autobiographical but included several elements of their lives.
"It forced us to understand ourselves better than we had," Rob Reiner told the AP in 2016. "I told Nick while we were making it, I said, ‘You know it doesn’t matter, whatever happens to this thing, we won already.’"
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nick Reiner diagnosed with schizophrenia before parents' murders, TMZ reports
The movie is Nick's only screen credit. He led a largely private life before and after the film’s release, leaving little public mark.
Court records show no previous criminal cases in Los Angeles County.
Reports since the arrest indicate that he had been prescribed medication for schizophrenia, a condition that medical experts suggest can sometimes lead to unpredictable behavior if combined with heavy substance use.
Nick Reiner reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia
Nick Reiner, the son of Rob and Michele Reiner, was reportedly diagnosed with schizophrenia and the new meds were "making him dangerous".
According to TMZ's sources, in the weeks leading up to his parents' killings, Nick was acting out of control, "erratic" and "dangerous."
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Nick Reiner's Santa Monica hotel room 'full of blood' amid Rob Reiner, Michele Reiner's deaths: TMZ
TMZ further reported Nick was recently treated at an LA-area rehab facility that specializes in mental health and substance abuse and was under the care of a psychiatrist.
Sources also told the publication Nick's medication was recently changed in the weeks leading up to his parents' murders and that medication was causing him to "lose even more control. " Doctors were reportedly adjusting the medications to help.
About the Reiner family legacy
Dig deeper:
Rob Reiner was the Emmy-winning star of the sitcom "All in the Family" who went on to direct films including "When Harry Met Sally..." and "The Princess Bride." He was an outspoken liberal activist for decades. Michele Singer Reiner was a photographer, movie producer and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. They had been married for 36 years.
The killings were especially shocking given the comic legacy of the family. Rob Reiner was the son of comedy legend Carl Reiner, who died in 2020 at age 98.
Nick was the second of the couple’s three children. His older brother, Jake has a small role in "Being Charlie." His younger sister Romy is also an actor. Reiner also has a daughter, Tracy Reiner, with his first wife, director and actor Penny Marshall.
President Donald Trump blamed Rob Reiner’s outspoken opposition to the president for the actor-director’s killing, delivering the unsubstantiated claim in a social media post that seemed intent on decrying his opponents even in the face of a tragedy.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Trump says Rob Reiner died of ‘Trump derangement syndrome’
- 'Very bad for our country': Trump doubles down on 'deranged' Rob Reiner comments
(L-R) Jake Reiner, Romy Reiner, Rob Reiner, and Michele Reiner attend the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on January 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Jake and Romy Reiner talk about their ‘unimaginable pain’
What they're saying:
The Reiner siblings, Jake and Romy, released a joint statement mourning the loss of their parents.
"Words cannot even begin to describe the unimaginable pain we are experiencing every moment of the day," they said. "The horrific and devastating loss of our parents, Rob and Michele Reiner, is something that no one should ever experience. They weren’t just our parents; they were our best friends."
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Rob and Michele Reiner's children issue statement after parents' stabbing deaths
The brother and sister said they are "grateful for the outpouring of condolences, kindness, and support we have received not only from family and friends but people from all walks of life. We now ask for respect and privacy, for speculation to be tempered with compassion and humanity, and for our parents to be remembered for the incredible lives they lived and the love they gave."
What's next:
If convicted on all charges, Nick faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or the death sentence if prosecutors choose.
Legal analysts expect the defense to introduce significant mental health evidence as the case moves toward a tentative trial date.
Nick Reiner makes 1st court appearance
New details continue to emerge following the arrest of Nick Reiner, who was charged in the double murder of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
What's next:
Nick Reiner's next court date is scheduled for Feb. 23.
The Source: This report is based on criminal complaints and official statements from the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office and the Los Angeles Police Department. Details regarding the causes of death were verified through death certificates issued by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner, while additional context was gathered from court transcripts of Nick Reiner’s initial hearing and verified statements from the Reiner family. Previous FOX 11 reports contributed.