Nick Reiner due back in court. Will it be televised? What to expect

Accused murderer Nick Reiner is due back in court Wednesday for his arraignment, during which a judge will inform him of the charges he faces and he'll have the chance to enter a plea.

The 32-year-old charged with killing his parents, beloved filmmaker Rob Reiner and producer Michele Singer Reiner, was set to be arraigned Dec. 17, but his high-profile lawyer, Alan Jackson, asked to delay the a formal legal proceeding until Jan. 7. Jackson didn't explain his reasons, but the move could have been designed to give the defense team a chance to psychiatrically evaluate Reiner, according to Mark Bederow, a criminal defense lawyer and former prosecutor.

A psychiatric evaluation would be relevant not just to a potential insanity defense, but also to whether Reiner is mentally competent to go through court proceedings such as an arraignment.

"One of the things that they want to do is is get a determination of, 'Is he even fit? Does he understand what's going on?'" Bederow tells USA TODAY. "It makes perfect sense to me that, at least initially, the defense would want to pause and see if they can explore that issue."

The upcoming court appearance could reveal more about how Reiner is approaching his defense against criminal charges that could land him behind bars for life.

Here are your questions answered ahead of the court appearance.

Will Nick Reiner's arraignment be televised?

It's up to the judge to decide whether Reiner's arraignment will be televised, according to the communications office for the Superior Court of Los Angeles County, where Reiner's case was filed. The court told USA TODAY the judge may make a ruling on that at the arraignment itself.

At Reiner's first court appearance Dec. 17, Judge Theresa McGonigle allowed cameras to stream the proceedings, but prohibited media from taking photos or videos of Reiner himself. The 32-year-old was wearing a suicide-prevention vest in the courtroom, which was captured in courtroom sketches.

What is Nick Reiner accused of doing?

Reiner is charged with murdering both his parents, Hollywood actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele Reiner. Rob Reiner was known for directing film classics including "When Harry Met Sally" and "A Few Good Men," and also starring as Archie Bunker's liberal son-in-law Michael "Meathead" Stivic on "All in the Family."

Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Dec. 16 that Reiner will be charged with two counts of first-degree murder with a "special circumstance" for allegedly committing multiple murders. That "special" add-on means prosecutors could seek the death penalty. Hochman said his office hasn't yet decided whether to do so.

The Reiners were found dead in their home in the Brentwood neighborhood of Los Angeles Dec. 14. Nick Reiner, who had a history of drug abuse dating back to his teenage years, was reportedly living in a guest house on his parents' property. He was arrested later the same day near the campus of the University of Southern California in Los Angeles.

Could Nick Reiner get out on bail?

After his arrest, Nick Reiner's bail was initially set at $4 million but was later revoked – meaning he can't put up any sum of money to be released ahead of a trial. His arraignment could be an opportunity for his defense team to raise that issue on his behalf.

Judges in California take various factors into account in deciding whether to set bail and other release conditions, such as whether the defendant is a flight risk or poses a threat to the community.

Who is Alan Jackson, Nick Reiner's lawyer?

Alan Jackson is a flashy courtroom litigator known for achieving major wins for some high-profile clients.

Jackson got prosecutors to drop sexual assault charges against movie star Kevin Spacey in 2019 after scrutinizing the accuser's story and cell phone evidence. He won an acquittal for Karen Read, whose trial captured audiences nationwide, on charges that she murdered her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O'Keefe.

In Read's case, Jackson also showed a deft touch when it came to the court of public opinion. He gave media interviews and frequently motioned publicly to her supporters, who grew into a large crowd outside the Dedham, Massachusetts, courthouse by the time of her acquittal.

Jackson already put his comfortability with the media to work outside court Dec. 17 in Reiner's case, acknowledging to a legion of cameras the "devastating tragedy" for the Reiner family, but also urging the public to wait for "very complex and serious issues" in the young man's case to be analyzed.

What have Nick Reiner's siblings said?

In addition to Nick Reiner, Rob and Michele Reiner shared children Jake and Romy Reiner. The brother and sister said in a joint statement to TMZ and People Dec. 17 that words couldn't "begin to describe the unimaginable pain" they were experiencing. They asked for privacy, and for speculation about the murders "to be tempered with compassion and humanity."

All three children are seen in various photos with their parents at Hollywood events stretching across many years. Rob Reiner directed a film, "Being Charlie," cowritten by Nick Reiner that was loosely based on the son's struggles with drug addiction.

Will Reiner autopsy reports be released?

In a Dec. 29 statement, the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's office said it has received a court order to withhold the autopsy reports for Rob and Michele Reiner. The Los Angeles Police Department sought the order, according to the statement. The medical examiner's office said information on the deaths will be made available once the order is lifted.

Some details on the couple's condition when their bodies were discovered was released earlier, including preliminary findings from the medical examiner's office that the deaths were homicides caused by "multiple sharp force injuries."

The district attorney said Nick Reiner will face a "special allegation" in his case that he used a dangerous weapon – "a knife" – in the killings. That type of allegation can lead to added prison time.

Contributing: Bryan Alexander, KiMi Robinson, Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY