• Nick Reiner is charged with first-degree murder of his parents, Rob and Michele Reiner.
• His high-profile lawyer, Alan Jackson, withdrew due to unspecified circumstances.
• The arraignment date has been postponed to February 23.
• Reiner could potentially face life in prison or the death penalty if convicted.
• Nick Reiner has a documented history of addiction and mental health issues.

Nick Reiner, the 32-year-old son of famed filmmaker Rob Reiner, is facing two counts of first-degree murder for the stabbing deaths of his parents, which occurred on December 14 in their Brentwood home. At a recent court appearance, he was expected to enter a plea, but this was postponed when his attorney, Alan Jackson, unexpectedly withdrew from the case, citing "circumstances beyond our control" that made it impossible for him to continue representing Reiner. Despite his departure, Jackson publicly asserted that, based on the law, "Nick Reiner is not guilty of murder," highlighting his belief in his client's innocence according to California law, according to ABC News and CBS News.

Following Jackson's withdrawal, the Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office has appointed Kimberly Greene to represent Nick Reiner. He was seen in court wearing a brown jumpsuit, indicating his ongoing detention. In light of Jackson's withdrawal, the judge has rescheduled the arraignment to February 23. During this hearing, Reiner did not enter a plea, which is standard procedure in such complex cases, according to Los Angeles Times and Channel News Asia.

The Reiners were found dead in their home, having sustained "multiple sharp force injuries," which led to their deaths. Nick Reiner was identified as the prime suspect shortly after their bodies were discovered. Should he be convicted, he faces a sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole, or even the death penalty, although no final decision has been made on pursuing capital punishment, according to NPR and BBC News.

Nick Reiner's history of mental health and addiction issues has become a focal point in the case, with his struggles documented over the years. Family and friends have expressed concerns about his deteriorating mental state leading up to the tragic events. Legal experts speculated that an insanity defense might be on the table, although such defenses can be significantly challenging to prove in court, according to South China Morning Post and Al Jazeera.