Nick Reiner’s ex lawyer reveals why he dropped out of Rob Reiner murder case

Alan Jackson was originally signed on to defend Nick Reiner in court over charges related to the murder of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner, but he abruptly withdrew from the case – and now he’s explained why. 

Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner, 70, were found stabbed to death in their Los Angeles home in December 2025, prompting an investigation that quickly focused on their son, Nick Reiner.

The 32-year-old was arrested the same day and later charged with two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances related to multiple murders. He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody awaiting trial. 

Prosecutors have not yet decided whether to seek the death penalty, though he could face either death or life imprisonment without parole if convicted. Sources previously told NBC that Nick was diagnosed with schizophrenia several years ago.

Alan Jackson, who’s defended a range of high profile cases including Karen Read and Kevin Spacey, was originally hired by Nick last December as his attorney. But he resigned the following month, and was replaced by a public defender.

Why Alan Jackson withdrew from the Nick Reiner case

In court documents filed on Monday, June 8th, and seen by Film Shrine, Nick Reiner is seeking access to funds from a family trust in order to help his case. The petition also contains a declaration from Jackson in which he explains why he dropped out. 

Alan Jackson, Nick Reiner's former attorney, says he's willing and ready to defend the alleged murderer — if logistics can be worked out. pic.twitter.com/txKkAWgC29

— TMZ (@TMZ) June 9, 2026

The attorney said that he and his team left due to the fact that they were not paid, and that they’re ready to rejoin the case once Nick’s funding is made available. 

In the declaration, Jackson said he rushed back to California in December after being contacted by a representative of the family. 

He agreed to represent Nick after being assured by family members – including siblings Jake and Romy Reiner – that the agreed-upon funds would be paid. 

According to Jackson, his firm immediately threw its resources behind the case, with lawyers, investigators, and experts working through Christmas and New Year. But he said those plans fell apart when he was later told the promised funding would not be provided.

“In late December 2025, the family representative informed me that none of the anticipated third-party funding would be provided,” Jackson wrote. “That position was inconsistent with the prior assurances on which my firm had relied.”

As a result, Jackson said his firm had no choice but to withdraw from the case. “Without an available source of funding, continued private representation by my firm was no longer feasible,” he explained.

However, the lawyer stressed that he is still prepared to defend Nick if the court approves access to trust funds. He said Nick wants his firm back on the case and that Werksman Jackson & Quinn is “ready, willing, and able” to resume representing him.

He added that the firm would even consider alternative payment arrangements to the original fee agreement if it meant Nick could secure the private legal representation he wants.

The $1.5 million trust at the centre of the petition

Jackson’s declaration is part of the wider petition attempting to seek access for Nick to a trust fund his parents set up for him decades ago in order to pay for his defence costs. 

According to the petition, Rob and Michele created the Nick Reiner Children’s Trust when he was an infant, separate from the much larger Reiner family trusts. Similar trusts were also established for his siblings.

The filing claims the trust currently holds more than $1.5 million for Nick’s sole benefit and was designed so that he would receive half of the money when he turned 30, with the remainder distributed when he turns 35.

Nick celebrated his 30th birthday in September 2023, but his lawyers say he has never received the first mandatory distribution and has not even been told how much he was due to receive.

His legal team argues that the money already belongs to him and should be made available so he can pay for his defence.

“Nick loved his parents, and he is devastated by their deaths,” the court document reads.

“But the facts about what did and did not happen to them are not at issue in this trust litigation. Nick’s criminal defense attorneys will present those facts in the criminal case.”

The filing continues: “Like anyone accused of a crime, Nick is presumed innocent, and he is entitled to mount his defense with the resources that are lawfully his own.” The court is yet to make a decision. 

For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page.

Featured images credit: Chris Torres/EPA/Eric Thayer/Pool/EPA/Shutterstock