rewrite this title in other words: Nick Reiner returns to court, swapping private attorney for public defense

Prominent attorney Alan Jackson resigned Wednesday as the attorney for Nick Reiner, who is awaiting trial for the murder of his parents, beloved Hollywood couple Rob and Michele Reiner.

“We feel there is nothing we can do at this time, but to ask for relief,” Jackson told LA County Superior Court Judge Theresa McGonigle.

The Los Angeles County public defender’s office has stepped in to represent Reiner on two counts of murder in the December stabbing death of his parents in their Brentwood home.

Reiner’s trial has been postponed to Feb. 23 based on the change of counsel. His new attorney is Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene.

The brief hearing was played before a packed courtroom packed with media and members of the public who had come to witness Reiner’s second court appearance. Rumors that Jackson is dropping the case were raised in court Wednesday morning, as the chief spokesman for the LA County public defender’s office was seen wandering around outside the courtroom.

Jackson and his team disappeared from McGonigle’s chambers around 9:15 a.m. When he left, several public defender’s office officials could be seen sitting in the front of the courtroom, and Jackson went with one of them to speak with Reiner.

Authorities say Reiner stabbed to death his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother in the early morning hours of their Brentwood home on Dec. 14. Their bodies were found in the master bedroom by their daughter about 12 hours later, and Nick Reiner was arrested that night in South LA by Los Angeles police.

Acclaimed director and comedian, Rob Reiner was known for his work in motion pictures, including “When Harry Met Sally … ,” “Stand By Me” and “This Is Spinal Tap.” Rob and Michele met on the set of “When Harry Met Sally…”, and Rob later said that he changed the ending so that the middle couple stayed together after Michele fell in love during filming. The couple had three children together and Rob has a daughter from a previous marriage.

Nick Reiner’s mental health issues and addiction problems have been documented for a long time. He spoke publicly about his sobriety in 2015, when he worked with his father on “Being Charlie,” an autobiographical film about addiction and recovery written by a father and son. Nick has also spoken on podcasts about heavy drug use and vandalizing his parents’ guest house while “coming off a high.” He was staying in a guest house at the time of the murder.

Neama Rahmani, a former federal prosecutor not involved in Reiner’s case, said after Jackson’s lawyer was changed on Wednesday: “Nick either can’t pay him or they don’t agree with the plan. It could be seven people and he has no money. If so, why would he stay at his parents’ guest house?”

Michael Goldstein, another prominent LA attorney, said: “It would be unfair to try to figure out what happened here but there may have been a conflict between the client and Jackson. There are a lot of incredibly talented lawyers in the public defender’s office who are well equipped to take over.”

Los Angeles police made two visits to the Reiners’ home in 2019 to conduct welfare checks and respond to calls related to mental health, according to records obtained by The Times.

Police have not released a motive for the killings, although family friends told The Times that Rob and Nick Reiner had gotten into an argument at a holiday party at the home of talk show host Conan O’Brien hours before the attack.

It’s unclear how much Reiner’s struggles will play into any criminal proceedings. Nick Reiner did not enter a plea during his first court appearance last month and was seen wearing a suicide vest provided to LA County inmates at risk of harming themselves.