From High-Profile Defense to the Reiner Case: Alan Jackson’s Legal Journey
In the realm of high-profile criminal defense, attorney Alan Jackson has established himself as one of America’s most sought-after legal representatives. A partner at Werksman Jackson & Quinn LLP, Jackson boasts an impressive 96 percent success rate with more than 85 jury trials under his belt. His reputation has earned him recognition as one of California’s Top 100 Lawyers, and his expertise frequently positions him as a prominent legal analyst for various news outlets. Jackson’s career has been defined by his willingness to take on complex, highly publicized cases that capture national attention – a pattern that continued when he was initially hired to represent Nick Reiner in the shocking case involving the deaths of his parents, legendary director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer Reiner.
The Reiner case represents just the latest chapter in Jackson’s history of representing clients at the center of media firestorms. His client roster reads like a roll call of headline-making defendants, including disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein during his sexual assault trials and actor Kevin Spacey, whose sexual assault case was eventually dropped. Perhaps most notably, Jackson recently secured a significant legal victory for Karen Read, who in June 2025 was acquitted of second-degree murder charges in the death of her boyfriend, police officer John O’Keefe. Though Read was found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence, she received just one year of probation for this first offense. Following this win, Jackson spoke passionately about what he viewed as the broader significance of the case, noting that “the Karen Read movement was so much bigger than this 110-pound girl who got wrongfully accused,” and suggesting that the case had exposed systemic problems within the justice system that remained to be addressed.
The circumstances surrounding Nick Reiner’s case are particularly tragic and complex. On December 14, Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their Brentwood mansion with stab wounds. Hours after this gruesome discovery, their son Nick was arrested in connection with their deaths. The case immediately drew intense media scrutiny, not only because of Rob Reiner’s status as an acclaimed filmmaker and activist but also because of Nick’s previously documented struggles. Over the years, Nick had been open about his battles with addiction and periods of homelessness – personal challenges that had actually inspired the 2015 film “Being Charlie,” which he co-wrote with his father, who directed the project. This creative collaboration made the alleged patricide and matricide all the more shocking to the public.
When Jackson initially took on Nick Reiner’s representation, he faced immediate challenges. At Nick’s first scheduled court appearance following the murders, Jackson informed reporters that his client was not “medically cleared” to attend. Speaking to the press outside the courthouse, Jackson indicated that Nick might appear at a subsequent hearing on December 17, while noting that no official charging document had yet been filed by prosecutors. This preliminary phase of the case highlighted the sensitive nature of the proceedings, with questions about Nick’s mental and physical state becoming immediately relevant to the developing legal strategy. The history of addiction and mental health struggles that Nick had publicly acknowledged added layers of complexity to what was already a deeply disturbing case.
In a surprising development, Jackson ultimately stepped down as Nick Reiner’s attorney before the January 2026 arraignment, which was subsequently postponed another month. Despite withdrawing from the case, Jackson made a bold public statement regarding his former client’s innocence. During a press conference, he declared with certainty, “We’re not just convinced, we know that the legal process will reveal the true facts of the circumstances surrounding Nick’s case. What we’ve learned, and you can take this to the bank, is that, pursuant to the law in California, Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder.” Such a definitive statement from a veteran defense attorney who was no longer representing the accused raised eyebrows and questions about what information might have led to this conviction, as well as the reasons behind Jackson’s departure from the case.
With Nick Reiner now represented by public defender Kimberly Greene, the case continues to evolve as the rescheduled arraignment approaches. Jackson’s brief but notable involvement in this tragic family story represents just one chapter in his career of high-stakes criminal defense work. His willingness to take on controversial clients and make bold public statements reflects the approach that has made him one of America’s most recognized defense attorneys. While Jackson’s role in the Reiner case has concluded, his confident assertion of Nick’s innocence under California law has added another layer to an already complex narrative about family tragedy, mental health, addiction, and the criminal justice system. As with many of the cases Jackson has handled throughout his career, the final resolution may be years away, with many legal twists and turns yet to come.
