At a Glance
- Alan Jackson withdrew as Nick Reiner’s counsel after three weeks of work.
- Jackson says he remains “completely and utterly committed to Nick’s best interest.”
- Reiner, charged with two counts of first-degree murder, now has a public defender.
- Why it matters: The switch could shape the pace and strategy of the high-profile double-murder trial.
Alan Jackson has broken his silence on why he stepped away from defending Nick Reiner, the 33-year-old accused of murdering his parents Rob and Michele Reiner.
Appearing on the Jan. 13 episode of Sirius XM’s Let’s Talk Off Camera with Kelly Ripa, Jackson said legal and ethical constraints prevent him from sharing the full story.
“Everybody’s got that same looming question, and I am compelled because of legal standards and ethical obligations-there’s certain things I simply can’t divulge,” Jackson told host Kelly Ripa.
The Withdrawal
Jackson’s exit became public on Jan. 7, when he announced in court that his team was off the case. Reiner’s arraignment was pushed to Feb. 23, and the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent him.
Jackson, who has previously represented Karen Read, Harvey Weinstein, and Kevin Spacey, stressed that the decision was not taken lightly.
“My team-me personally and my team-remain completely and utterly committed to Nick’s best interest,” he said. “We always will be committed to his best interests. I want nothing but the best for him and I want him to get the most robust defense that he possibly can get.”
Praise for New Counsel
On the Jan. 12 episode of the Hot Mics with Billy Bush podcast, Jackson voiced confidence in Reiner’s new attorney, Kimberly Greene of the public defender’s office.
“I have a lot of faith in the public defender’s office,” he said. “I have a lot of faith in their representation; they’re outstanding, outstanding legal professionals.”
Jackson added that his three-week stint on the case was intense.
“I was doing a favor to the truth,” he said. “We had worked at that time-it was about three weeks almost to the day-we had worked tirelessly. Nearly every waking hour, our entire team, and you saw the team behind me.”
Addressing Speculation
Jackson said he felt compelled to speak out amid media chatter.
“It was important for me to right some wrongs that had been printed, lots of speculation, lots of people who want to believe certain things,” he explained. “Obviously, something happened with my ability, and my team’s ability, to continue the representation, but I don’t want you, your audience, or anybody else to start speculating as to what that might be. I have not said a word about it.”
No Return Planned
When asked if he might re-enter the case, Jackson ruled it out.
“The withdrawal is in the books, the court has relieved me of his counsel, and that’s where it stands, moving forward,” he said.
Charges and Next Steps
Reiner faces two counts of first-degree murder with the special circumstance allegation of multiple murders, making him eligible for life without parole. Police allege he killed his parents at the family’s Pacific Palisades home in October 2023.
With Jackson’s departure, the case now rests with the public defender’s office. A pretrial hearing is set for Feb. 23, where Greene is expected to enter pleas and possibly argue bail.
Key Takeaways
- Jackson cites “legal standards and ethical obligations” for his withdrawal but offers no specifics.
- He publicly maintains Reiner is “not guilty under California law.”
- The public defender’s office inherits a high-stakes double-murder case already under national scrutiny.
