> At a Glance
> – Nick Reiner appeared in L.A. court Jan. 7 without his lead attorney
> – Alan Jackson has formally withdrawn from the case
> – Arraignment pushed to Feb. 23; no plea entered on double-murder charges
> – Why it matters: A public defender now represents the 32-year-old accused of killing Hollywood icons Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner
The Jan. 7 hearing lasted only minutes, but it reset the entire legal landscape for Nick Reiner, who now faces two counts of first-degree murder with a multiple-murder special circumstance.
Legal Shake-Up
Jackson’s exit leaves the defendant with a court-appointed public defender until-unless-new private counsel files an appearance. Because the withdrawal came at the last minute, the judge continued the arraignment to Feb. 23.
- No plea was entered
- Discovery deadlines remain on hold
- Custody status unchanged; Reiner remains jailed without bond
Family Response
The Reiner family issued a single statement through the New York Times:
> “They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings.”
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Dec. 14, afternoon | Rob Reiner, 78, and Michele Singer Reiner, 70, found dead in their L.A. home |
| Dec. 14, evening | Police arrest Nick Reiner near USC campus |
| Dec. 16 | L.A. County D.A. files two murder counts plus knife-use allegation |
| Jan. 7 | Attorney Alan Jackson withdraws; arraignment rescheduled for Feb. 23 |
Remembering the Victims
Hollywood reacted instantly to the couple’s deaths. Jane Fonda posted:
> “I saw them night before last looking healthy and happy. I am reeling with grief. Stunned.”
**Tracy Reiner, Rob’s daughter, told NBC News:
> “I came from the greatest family ever. I don’t know what to say. I’m in shock.”
Cinematographer Barry Markowitz, who stayed with the family in November, described a warm scene:
> “We watched a movie and a basketball game. Played with the dogs. Family time. One big love fest.”
He added that Nick appeared stable:
> “He looked great. He helped out, he took out the garbage, he watched TV, he washed dishes.”
Past Struggles
Nick Reiner has publicly documented his addiction battles, estimating 18 rehab stays between ages 14 and 19. He told Entertainment Tonight in 2016:
> “For me, the noise was basically living in the family that I live in and catching heat for that sort of stuff.”
After temporary sobriety, he relapsed, suffering what he called a “cocaine heart attack” around 2017 and later using heroin, as he detailed on the Dopey podcast in 2018.
Key Takeaways
- Defense switch delays plea; trial calendar now in flux
- Next court date set for Feb. 23
- Reiner remains in custody without bail
With private counsel gone, the case’s pace now depends on how quickly a new public-defense team can review thousands of pages of discovery before the rescheduled arraignment.
