Potential money matters plague Nick Reiner defense strategy: experts

Nick Reiner’s high-powered defense attorney, Alan Jackson, had no choice but to withdraw from the case on Wednesday, which was expected to be Nick’s first trial of the year.

Jackson cited circumstances beyond her and Nick’s control as to why she suddenly backed out of defending Nick against double murder charges in the stabbing deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Singer Reiner.

“Circumstances beyond our control, but more importantly circumstances beyond Nick’s control, dictated this,” Jackson said at a news conference outside the courthouse. he said. “Unfortunately, it has made it impossible for us to continue representing Nick. I am legally in this situation and I am ethically prohibited from disclosing all the reasons why.”

Criminal defense attorney and Fox News contributor Joshua Ritter believed Jackson’s hasty withdrawal from the case indicated money problems.

NICK REINER LOST ATTORNEY ALAN JACKSON IN PARENTAL MURDER CASE

“This appears to have been a mutual separation due to his lack of ability to retain a private attorney, and so his only option was to be left with a public defender,” Ritter told Fox News Digital.

Outside the courthouse, Jackson remained adamant that Nick was “not guilty” of murdering his family.

“We investigated this from top to bottom, back to front,” Jackson said. “What we learned — and you can take this to the bank — is that under the law of this state and the law of California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.”

Jackson arrived at Reiner’s home less than 24 hours after the couple’s bodies were found. She signed on to represent Nick soon after.

Jackson famously defended Karen Read, who was accused of hitting her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, with her car and leaving him for dead during a snowstorm. He maintained his innocence throughout two criminal trials; the first resulted in a hung jury, while the second found him not guilty of murder and manslaughter.

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“Sometimes, in cases like this, if you want an attorney at the first hearing, you have to act quickly because you only have 48 hours before they are arraigned,” Ritter said. “So it is not entirely uncommon for attorneys and clients to reach an agreement on paper, but it is not the case that funds are fully transferred before an attorney appears in court.”

Alan Jackson addresses the media outside Los Angeles Superior Court. (Derek Shook for Fox News Digital)

Nick Reiner appeared in court Wednesday wearing a tan jumpsuit. (Mona Edwards)

Seth J. Zuckerman“The person who paid the original fee on Nick Reiner’s behalf probably doesn’t want to continue funding the defense. There may be other issues at play, but we’ll never know since Jackson has an ethical responsibility not to disclose,” the famed criminal defense attorney and founder of Zuckerman Legal Group and former NYC prosecutor told Fox News Digital.

Zuckerman stated three reasons why a criminal defense attorney might withdraw from a case; these include financial problems, conflict of interest or conflict with the client over strategy.

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“If Jackson is claiming that circumstances beyond Nick’s control led to his withdrawal, then we can rule out the third possibility,” Zuckerman said.

Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani He agreed that the reason Jackson resigned was most likely money, or lack thereof.

Nick Reiner has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. (Laura Cavanaugh)

“We’re saying Mr. Green is a no-show in business. Nick can’t pay Jackson. It would be a seven-figure advance and he doesn’t have the money. If so, why would he be living in his parents’ guesthouse? Maybe his brothers considered paying Jackson but changed their mind.”

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He added: “The other possibility is that they disagree on trial strategy. Only then can the public defender be replaced by another private attorney. Nick has a chance, but it’s not a good one. Jackson or a public defender will have the same problems in the case.”

Rahmani also explained that under California’s predator rule, a child who kills his parents cannot receive a share of the inheritance.

Nick Reiner faces the maximum sentence without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. (Michael Buckner/Getty Images for Teen Vogue)

“This means they cannot obtain a will, trust, life insurance, or act as any other beneficiary,” Rahmani said. “The law assumes that the murderer predeceased his or her parents. A murder conviction in criminal court is enough to trigger the rule. A probate judge may also apply it. Nontraditional assets, such as intellectual property, may be held in separate LLCs or trusts, according to the analysis. The murderous heir will not inherit as a matter of law.”

The 32-year-old man was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in December and faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole or the death penalty. He remains in custody at Twin Towers Prison after being formally charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of his parents.

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Kimberly Greene, the assistant public defender assigned to the case, spoke briefly with Nick on Wednesday morning. “He understood there was going to be a change in counsel,” he said. “We did not have an in-depth meeting”

Ritter insisted the public defender’s office was “well qualified” to handle Nick’s case.

Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene was appointed to represent Nick Reiner on Wednesday. (Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times via Pool)

“They deal with these types of cases all the time, and they also have the resources to hire…investigators who can work on their behalf,” Ritter said. “I’m not trying to take anything away from the representation that Alan Jackson might have made on his behalf, but I don’t think that would in any way destroy his chances.”

A spokesperson for the Reiner family told Fox News Digital: “They have the utmost confidence in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to legal proceedings.”

Fox News Digital’s Christina Dugan Ramirez contributed to this report.

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