Nick Reiner’s scheduled arraignment was delayed after his lawyer recused himself from the double murder trial on Wednesday.
Los Angeles County Judge Theresa McGonigle approved Alan Jackson’s request to no longer represent Reiner, 32. As a result, Reiner’s arraignment was pushed back to February 23, according to The Los Angeles Times.
Reiner’s new attorney is Deputy Public Defender Kimberly Greene. It is unclear why Jackson — whose famous clients include Harvey Weinstein and Karen Read — asked to quit this case.
Reiner is charged with stabbing his father and mother, Rob and Michelle Reiner, 78 and 70, who were found dead at their Brentwood, California, home on December 14. Their bodies were discovered by their daughter roughly 12 hours after their slayings.
“They have the utmost trust in the legal process and will not comment further on matters related to the legal proceedings,” a spokesperson for the Reiner family told TMZ after Jackson stepped down.
Reiner did not enter a plea on Wednesday, but he did verbally agree to postpone his arraignment.
A source told The New York Times that the Reiner family hired Jackson immediately after Nick Reiner’s arrest. The source also claimed that Jackson’s resignation had nothing to do with his performance.
Reports indicated that Nick Reiner was removed from suicide watch before Wednesday’s hearing.
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[Feature Photo:Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP]