Nick Reiner's Lawyer Left With 'No Choice' but To Step Down Amid Reports Over His Funding Source
Nick Reiner’s lawyer says he was left with “no choice” but to step down in the defendant’s first-degree murder case in the killing of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner.
Alan Jackson, the high-powered attorney who was initially representing the 32-year-old, appeared in court with Nick on January 7, where the change in legal counsel was agreed upon.
“With Mr. Reiner’s consent, we ask to withdraw as counsel of record… We feel we have no choice but to withdraw as counsel,” Jackson told the court. He added that he and his team “remain deeply, deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests.”
Nick will now be represented by a public defender at an arraignment that postponed to Feb. 23.
In a press conference, Jackson said he and his team “remain deeply, deeply committed to Nick Reiner and to his best interests.”
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Nick’s former lawyer didn’t give an exact explanation as to why he was stepping down from his defense. “I had to withdraw as Nick Reiner’s counsel, circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly, circumstances beyond Nick’s control have dictated that,” Jackson said. “Sadly, it’s made it impossible for us to continue our representation of Nick. I’m legally, and I’m ethically prohibited from explaining all the reasons why I know that’s a question on everybody’s mind. We expect the public defender to step in. They’ve already been appointed and very capably protect Nick Reiner’s interests as he moves forward through the system.”
Jackson’s withdrawal comes after speculation about who was paying for Nick’s legal fees. While Blast speculates that Nick’s money is coming directly from Rob and Michele’s estate, The Hollywood Reporter notes that it’s possible that the younger Reiner was a beneficiary of the trust of his grandfather, Carl Reiner, a legendary actor, director and writer.
Nick may not receive any of his parents’ inheritance due to a California law known as a “slayer statute,” which means that a person who “feloniously and intentionally kills from the decedent” is not entitled to benefit from the estate.
It is not known if Nick’s parents had a separate living trust fund for him.
Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their home on December 14. Nick, who has a long history of drug abuse, was arrested shortly after.
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