The double-murder case against Nick Reiner is now paused until the New Year. A judge has ruled that he won’t allow new evidence to disrupt his vacation plans.
During a court session on Wednesday, Reiner’s defense team requested the chance to introduce additional evidence tied to grand jury transcripts that were recently unsealed.
Defense attorney Kimberly Greene mentioned she intends to present information regarding media coverage of this high-profile case and its potential impact on the trial. However, she noted that this process would require some time to prepare.
Judge Sam Ohta made it clear that he wouldn’t let this filing, which Greene estimates would take until the end of December to finalize, interfere with his holiday break. “I’m going on vacation and I don’t want to read the brief while I’m doing that,” he said. Meanwhile, Reiner sat shackled in a brown jumpsuit, occasionally rocking back and forth in his chair as he focused on the judge.
Ohta indicated that a hearing would be scheduled for January 13 regarding the unsealing of the transcripts. The defense is pushing against making these documents public, while media attorneys advocate for their release.
Reiner is facing charges for the murders of his parents, Hollywood director Rob Reiner, 78, and his mother Michele, 70, at their Brentwood home on December 14, 2025.
The 33-year-old was indicted for these murders, along with a disturbing special circumstance added to the charges on August 12. He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder following the unsealing of the grand jury indictment.
Additionally, he faces charges linked to multiple murders and murder committed by lying in wait, as well as allegations of personally using a knife as a deadly weapon.
The indictment describes the crime as involving great violence and bodily harm, noting that the victims were particularly vulnerable. “This was a profound betrayal by someone who was loved and trusted by the very people he is accused of killing,” commented Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman.
A grand jury indictment typically accelerates the trial process. Interestingly, prosecutors have decided against pursuing the death penalty in this case, influenced in part by the views of Rob and Michele Reiner, both of whom opposed capital punishment.
The siblings of the accused, Jake and Romy Reiner, were also likely to struggle with the idea of possibly participating in the execution of their brother.
“We did speak with Nick Reiner’s siblings; they made their views very clear. We took their views into consideration and ultimately decided not to seek the death penalty,” Hochman stated.
In related matters, Reiner is also contesting for trust money he believes is owed to him for his defense costs, with a hearing on that issue scheduled for Friday.
