Hollywood power lawyer Alan Jackson is speaking out about his brief time representing Nick Reiner in a first-degree murder case over the slaying of his parents Rob and Michele Reiner.
But, when appearing on the Hot Mics With Billy Bush podcast, the Los Angeles-based criminal defense attorney reiterated that he is prohibited from explaining why he suddenly stepped down from representing Nick Reiner on Jan. 7. “I don’t speak for Nick. I’ve said what I would be willing to say … I’m bound by legal and ethical restrictions, and so I’ve said as much I can say,” Jackson said.
But when pressed on whether his abrupt withdrawal from the case was over money, Jackson went on the offensive: “You can’t say that something happened with the retainer because I’ve never said that … 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.”
On the podcast, Jackson often referred to his statement on Jan. 7 delivered on the steps of the Los Angeles courthouse during an initial hearing to arraign Nick Reiner on murder charges, and where he announced he had withdrawn as Reiner’s counsel.
“Circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control, have dictated that, sadly, it’s made it impossible for us to continue our representation of Nick,” Jackson said, as he cited confidentiality rules. Nick Reiner is now to be represented by a public defender, with his next arraignment hearing scheduled for Feb. 23.
Prosecutors have alleged that Reiner on Dec. 14, 2025, stabbed his 78-year-old father and 70-year-old mother. He allegedly fled the scene and checked in to the Pierside Santa Monica hotel hours after he got into an argument with his parents at a Saturday holiday party at Conan O’Brien’s home, sources told The Hollywood Reporter. Law enforcement arrested Reiner later that night in South Los Angeles near USC.
Reiner’s parents died of “multiple sharp force injuries,” according to the L.A. County medical examiner. Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder with special circumstances relating to multiple homicides. Los Angeles County prosecutors have also advanced a special allegation over the use of a deadly weapon, a knife, in the crime. If convicted as charged, he could face a death sentence or life in prison without the possibility of parole, though a decision hasn’t been made on whether to seek capital punishment.
During the Jan. 7 press conference at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center, Jackson stated “pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder, print that.” On the podcast, he elaborated on the implications for Reiner pleading insanity, a defense rarely used in the U.S. legal system.
“It’s difficult for the justice system to get its arms around that. It’s a different, nuanced set of laws,” Jackson said.
