CA - Murder victims Identified as Rob Reiner and wife Michele - LA Dec 14 2025

[JDG]

I assumed they did, and they'd use it to help Nick ?
He is their brother after all -- and afaik, they still are supportive of him.
Imo.

I think the (alleged) fact that he killed their parents overrides the fraternity of sibling hood.

It sure would for me!

 

[detective.moon]

what makes me think that this is about money is that AJ is being replaced by a public defender. i imagine that if this was a disagreement about strategy, a new (expensive!) attorney would be found to replace him. unless the public
defender is only a temporary fix? jmo.

 

[cckp72]

Exactly. If he had the means to pay for a private attorney, he wouldn’t be able to have a public defender appointed for him. IMO it’s all about the money why Jackson resigned.

That's interesting. How do they go about proving that? Bank account access?

 

[tlcya]

Hhhmmm, interesting turn of events regarding Jackson withdrawing.

All the credible news sources when we first heard about the Reiners (and posted way above somewhere) said Rob’s worth was $200,000,000.

This makes sense to me, and in fact I’d think he’d be worth even more. He’s been in show business for 50 years, he acted, he directed, he produced and I’m sure he also wrote, though Spinal Tap was mostly improvised.

In addition to whatever he was left by his famous father Carl. Plus Michele’s earnings as a photographer. Also, whatever Rob received in residuals from “All in the Family.”

This makes me ponder—-did the other siblings first decide to pay for the best representation and then changed their minds? Or maybe a dispute among the children about this issue?

Or maybe they were, or some were, afraid that if Jackson were TOO superlative, Nick could actually go free? No prison, no mental health facility? Then they’d have to fear for themselves?

Obviously I’m just spitballing. I’d be on the side, though, of NOT using Rob and Michele’s well-earned money to defend someone who slit the throats of my parents, brother or not. He’d no longer be my brother, as far as I’m concerned.

Or instead, maybe Nick decided he didn’t like Alan Jackson. Didn’t like his strategy or maybe just didn’t like his face or something.

Just my speculation.

Or perhaps NR was the beneficiary of a trust that was set up well before his parents death and funds from that trust were anticipated to pay for his legal fees but after their deaths slayer law prevented his trust from receiving a death benefit from his parents estate and so the funds already in it were quickly used up?

But again, if the reason for withdrawal was simply financial I would have expected it to be addressed in open court and not hidden in chambers prior to the hearing starting. JMO

 

[tlcya]

That's interesting. How do they go about proving that? Bank account access?

probably by showing he has no real property, no assets to speak of, and no job and hasn't for many years. No income and no assets equals indigent. This thread is full of information indicating that NR lived off his parents, who are now dead.

 

[Chimera]

Jan. 7th is the next arraignment :

Alan Jackson Speaks After Nick Reiner Court Appearance

Alan Jackson Speaks After Nick Reiner Court Appearance

www.tmz.com

 

[Chimera]

Exactly. If he had the means to pay for a private attorney, he wouldn’t be able to have a public defender appointed for him. IMO it’s all about the money why Jackson resigned.

I think you're right.
Still, I thought he'd take the case for free for the notoriety of his client being Nick Reiner ?
Imo.

 

[detective.moon]

But again, if the reason for withdrawal was simply financial I would have expected it to be addressed in open court and not hidden in chambers prior to the hearing starting. JMO

rsbm

i wonder if they feel his family not supporting him (anymore) would be a bad look for him/embarrassing? jmo.

 

[Megnut]

Hhhmmm, interesting turn of events regarding Jackson withdrawing.

All the credible news sources when we first heard about the Reiners (and posted way above somewhere) said Rob’s worth was $200,000,000.

This makes sense to me, and in fact I’d think he’d be worth even more. He’s been in show business for 50 years, he acted, he directed, he produced and I’m sure he also wrote, though Spinal Tap was mostly improvised.

In addition to whatever he was left by his famous father Carl. Plus Michele’s earnings as a photographer. Also, whatever Rob received in residuals from “All in the Family.”

This makes me ponder—-did the other siblings first decide to pay for the best representation and then changed their minds? Or maybe a dispute among the children about this issue?

Or maybe they were, or some were, afraid that if Jackson were TOO superlative, Nick could actually go free? No prison, no mental health facility? Then they’d have to fear for themselves?

Obviously I’m just spitballing. I’d be on the side, though, of NOT using Rob and Michele’s well-earned money to defend someone who slit the throats of my parents, brother or not. He’d no longer be my brother, as far as I’m concerned.

Or instead, maybe Nick decided he didn’t like Alan Jackson. Didn’t like his strategy or maybe just didn’t like his face or something.

Just my speculation.

Which is why I think it might not be over money. This is a case AJ might do pro bono -- I think NR overrode him.

Straight up refusal to plead NGRI.

Which is the only way IMO he could potentially be found NG.

I think NR is disordered but competent and clashed with AJ.

That would leave AJ nowhere to go but step down from representing a defendant who did commit the crime but refuses his attorney's best advice.

And AJ, ethically, cannot answer to that publicly -- without seriously jeopardizing NR's right to a fair trial (as well as a violation of the attorney-client privilege).

I think NR is driving this bus.

JMO

 

[Hexe]

Which is why I think it might not be over money. This is a case AJ might do pro bono -- I think NR overrode him.

Straight up refusal to plead NGRI.

Which is the only way IMO he could potentially be found NG.

I think NR is disordered but competent and clashed with AJ.

That would leave AJ nowhere to go but step down from representing a defendant who did commit the crime but refuses his attorney's best advice.

And AJ, ethically, cannot answer to that publicly -- without seriously jeopardizing NR's right to a fair trial (as well as a violation of the attorney-client privilege).

I think NR is driving this bus.

JMO

That here. We already know Nick is not the most pliable.

 

[NuttMegg]

Do they ever assign a public defender while they then do all the funds checking? I read that somewhere, that would be to have him be covered continuously, to avoid appeals.

I didn't read it in respect to NR, just that the minute someone calls "lawyer", ie Crime Talk, they have to give the person one.

 

[Megnut]

I think you're right.
Still, I thought he'd take the case for free for the notoriety of his client being Nick Reiner ?
Imo.

I suspect that avenue was blocked as well. By NR.

 

[MistyWaters]

I think you're right.
Still, I thought he'd take the case for free for the notoriety of his client being Nick Reiner ?
Imo.

IMO Attorneys take pro bono clients only when they strongly believe they can win. It’s harmful to their notoriety if their client gets the book tossed at them.

Perhaps AJ became aware of information that led him to doubt it’s a case that could be won? For example, actions by NR to indicate full awareness of stabbing his parents to death was intentional, therefore insanity defence wouldn’t apply. Even if AJ was getting paid, for the sake of his reputation he might back out if he was aware of deeply incriminating information especially if NR insisted on pleading not guilty and lied to him about the details.
JMO

 

[tlcya]

IMO Attorneys take pro bono clients only when they strongly believe they can win. It’s harmful to their notoriety if their client gets the book tossed at them.

Perhaps AJ became aware of information that led him to doubt it’s a case that could be won? For example, actions by NR to indicate full awareness of stabbing his parents to death was intentional, therefore insanity defence wouldn’t apply. Even if AJ was getting paid, for the sake of his reputation he might back out if he was aware of deeply incriminating information especially if NR insisted on pleading not guilty and lied to him about the details.
JMO

Then why go to the trouble of very emphatically stating after having withdrawn the following:

Outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse after the hearing, the lawyer added, “It’s not possible for us to continue our representation” of Reiner. He said he was prohibited from discussing why for legal and ethical reasons and stressed, “Pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder, print that.”
Nick Reiner’s Power Lawyer Alan Jackson Abruptly Withdraws From Murder Case

Personally, I suspect NR is unwilling to agree to the strategy of NG by reason of insanity and that is why the two have parted ways. AJ feels strongly that is the best defense for the client and the client insists he is not and was not insane. Because most insane people do not believe they are indeed insane. MOO

 

[arielilane]

@conlin_lauren


Who else thinks Alan Jackson’s mention of body attachments for 10 witnesses at this morning’s Reiner hearing might be connected to people from the Conan O’Brien Christmas party?


2:15 PM · Jan 7, 2026

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008980916346212676

 

[lohrtabitha]

Then why go to the trouble of very emphatically stating after having withdrawn the following:

Outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse after the hearing, the lawyer added, “It’s not possible for us to continue our representation” of Reiner. He said he was prohibited from discussing why for legal and ethical reasons and stressed, “Pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder, print that.”
Nick Reiner’s Power Lawyer Alan Jackson Abruptly Withdraws From Murder Case

Personally, I suspect NR is unwilling to agree to the strategy of NG by reason of insanity and that is why the two have parted ways. AJ feels strongly that is the best defense for the client and the client insists he is not and was not insane. Because most insane people do not believe they are indeed insane. MOO

I agree with you here. There are insane/ mentally ill people that refuse to admit that they are insane.

Anosognosia

When we talk about anosognosia in mental illness, we mean that someone is unaware of their own mental health condition or that they can’t perceive their condition accurately.

www.nami.org

 

[tlcya]

@conlin_lauren


Who else thinks Alan Jackson’s mention of body attachments for 10 witnesses at this morning’s Reiner hearing might be connected to people from the Conan O’Brien Christmas party?


2:15 PM · Jan 7, 2026

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008980916346212676

I think that is highly possible. I also wondered if treating physicians might have been subpoenaed by AJ and prior to stepping down he wanted to make sure the public defender would not need to duplicate his work and those subpoenas would still stand. Just a guess.

 

[NuttMegg]

That short statement by the family was perfectly opaque. Is it possibly that it was someone else paying the lawyer?
So it wasn't NR. Do we know for sure the family had stepped up to hire the atty? ( & not Billy Crystal, etc?)

 

[MistyWaters]

Then why go to the trouble of very emphatically stating after having withdrawn the following:

Outside the downtown Los Angeles courthouse after the hearing, the lawyer added, “It’s not possible for us to continue our representation” of Reiner. He said he was prohibited from discussing why for legal and ethical reasons and stressed, “Pursuant to the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder, print that.”
Nick Reiner’s Power Lawyer Alan Jackson Abruptly Withdraws From Murder Case

Personally, I suspect NR is unwilling to agree to the strategy of NG by reason of insanity and that is why the two have parted ways. AJ feels strongly that is the best defense for the client and the client insists he is not and was not insane. Because most insane people do not believe they are indeed insane. MOO

Is it not a true statement that NR is not guilty of murder, since he’s considered innocent until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt? I can’t blame any attorney for reminding the public of the law, regardless of opinion.

 

[detective.moon]

some scattered thoughts

- this reminds me of the una bomber trial! the una bomber tried to dismiss his (court ordered) lawyers who wanted him to plead insanity to avoid the death penalty (but for some reason he couldn’t)

what if the conflict is about the strategy but every other lawyer will want to go for the exact same strategy?

- i can see not wanting to do a job that started out as a paid job pro bono, it would maybe set a bad precedent?