Alan Jackson, attorney representing Nick Raynerresigned from the case on Wednesday.
The departure was announced during Reiner's second appearance in Los Angeles Superior Court for his scheduled arraignment. murder of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michelle Singer Reiner.
Jackson announced he was withdrawing from the case, and Reiner will now be represented by public defender Kimberly Green.
Reiner appeared behind glass in the holding area of a Los Angeles courtroom, dressed in brown prison clothes and with shaved hair. Green asked Judge Teresa McGonigle to delay the arraignment after Jackson withdrew from the case.
The judge asked Reiner if he agreed with the new arraignment date of Feb. 23, and he replied, “Yes, I agree.”
McGonigle approved the use of cameras in the courtroom, but said it was impossible to photograph the defendant.
“I was forced to withdraw as Nick Reiner's attorney this morning. Circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly circumstances beyond Nick's control, have led to the unfortunate loss of our ability to continue our representation,” Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse in Los Angeles.
“I am legally and ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons. I know this is a question on everyone's mind. We expect the public defender to intervene. They have already been appointed and are very ably advocating for Nick Reiner as he moves through the system,” he added.
“Be very clear about this: my team and I remain deeply committed to Nick Reiner and his interests,” Jackson said. “In fact, we know, we are not just convinced, we know that the trial will reveal the true facts of the circumstances of this case.”
Receive daily national news
Get the day's top news, political, economic and current affairs headlines delivered to your inbox once a day.
“What we have learned – and you can take this to the bank – is that under the law of this state, Nick Rayner is not guilty of murder. Print this out,” Jackson added.
After this news, Rainer's family told the New York Times in a statement that they have “full confidence in the judicial process and will not comment further on matters related to the litigation.”
Reiner's scheduled appearance comes three and a half weeks after his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother were found dead of stab wounds at their home in the upscale Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles on Dec. 14, 2025, authorities said.
Los Angeles County Medical Examiner stated in the initial findings that they died from “multiple injuries caused by a sharp object,” but gave no other details, and police said nothing about a possible motive.
Nick Rayner, 32, was arrested hours later and has since been held without bail. Two days later he was charged with two counts of first degree murder.
He did not apply at the time brief first appearance in court December 17. Jackson told the court it was “too early” to enter a guilty plea and that he had already agreed with the prosecution to defer arraignment until January.
“This is a devastating tragedy that has befallen the Reiner family. We can all acknowledge that. Our hearts go out to the entire Reiner family,” Jackson told reporters outside the courthouse in December.
Jackson said there were “very complex and serious issues” surrounding the case.
“Everything has to be very carefully, but very carefully, reviewed, studied, considered and analyzed,” Jackson said.
Reiner also faces special charges of personally using a dangerous and deadly weapon, namely a knife, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said. announced at a press conference December 16.
These charges carry a maximum penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. A decision on the death penalty has not yet been made, Hochman added.
“Allegations are not evidence,” Hochman said. “The evidence is what we will present in court to meet the standard of proof that we meet in every criminal case, which is beyond a reasonable doubt.
“Investigating these cases involving family members is one of the most complex and heartbreaking cases this office encounters due to the intimate and often violent nature of the crimes involved.”
Prosecutors said they have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty.
The prosecution is headed by Deputy District Attorney Habib Balian, whose recent cases included the Menendez brothers' bid for a new sentence and the trial of Robert Durst.
— With files from The Associated Press
© 2026 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
