Nick Reiner’s former lawyer, Alan Jackson, broke down what occurs when an individual pleads madness.
“There’s little or no within the regulation that’s indefensible and there’s a motive for that as a result of I by no means strategy a case like I’m simply defending a person,” Jackson stated whereas showing on the Tuesday, January 13, episode of Kelly Ripa’s SiriusXM podcast “Let’s Speak Off Digicam,” simply six days after the legal professional withdrew from Reiner’s authorized staff.
“Each time I strategy a case on the protection facet, I stroll into the case and my complete staff, they’re all educated to stroll into the case realizing full effectively that we’re defending one thing larger than the person,” he continued. “We’re defending the structure, we’re defending an thought, we’re defending the concept, the inspiration of which this nation was constructed when it comes to its justice system.
He added, “We don’t dwell in a system through which you form of prepared, hearth, intention. You assume any individual did one thing, so that you throw them in jail and someplace down the highway you may give them a trial. It’s not the best way our system works.”
Jackson was initially employed as Nick’s legal professional within the case of the homicide of his mother and father, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. Nick was arrested after the couple have been discovered lifeless of their Brentwood, California, residence after affected by obvious stab wounds. Rob was 78 whereas Michele was 70.
Earlier this month, Jackson introduced throughout Nick’s listening to that he was stepping down from the case. A public defender has been chosen as his alternative. Jackson has said on a number of events he’s ethically prohibited from revealing the explanation why he exited the case.
“I’m legally and I’m ethically prohibited from explaining all of the the explanation why, I do know that’s a query on everybody’s thoughts,” he advised reporters outdoors the courthouse. “We count on the general public defender to step in, they’ve already been appointed and really fastidiously defend Nick Reiner’s pursuits as he strikes ahead via the system.”
On Tuesday, the lawyer defined that he takes an individual’s civil liberties “very significantly.” He additionally broached the subject of defending an individual who has struggled with psychological well being points or a medical situation. (Nick, who had publicly struggled with psychological well being and substance abuse points, was taken off suicide watch on January 5 following his arrest.)
“Regardless of who the particular person is, if the federal government doesn’t get it proper. And in sure circumstances, there are psychological well being points. I’m not speaking about Nick’s case, simply usually,” he shared. “Such as you stated, form of the decision of the questions was what are some defenses which can be obtainable to residents, simply any citizen. One factor we don’t do is we don’t punish the sick for being sick.”
Jackson defined that as people who dwell in a civilized society, it’s essential that somebody is “solely punish felony conduct the place there’s an intent component.”
“When you’ve got a psychological sickness, such that you just can not type an intent, you don’t perceive the character and high quality of your conduct, etcetera, then a system is constructed to accommodate that and to deal with that and that’s the not responsible by motive of madness protection,” he stated. “So in that circumstance, lots of people have talked about it, Kelly, what does that imply? ‘Oh, does that imply you go to a psychiatrist for 10 minutes and then you definitely’re launched?’ No it doesn’t imply that in any respect. The system is constructed to deal with that.”
In keeping with Jackson, meaning an individual goes to “a state psychological hospital” and stays there till the “illness or that sickness is resolved.”
Ripa then requested if that’s the similar logic a lawyer would use if their consumer was trying to plead not responsible by motive of madness. Jackson then defined the method particularly in California.
“The process is as follows, you enter the plea, you continue to undergo a guilt section, which is simply commonplace trial on whether or not or not the defendant is answerable for and answerable for, legally answerable for the dying of any individual else or the conduct in query,” he stated. “Provided that the jury comes again unanimously as responsible, then you definitely go to a penalty section which that penalty section can embody an NGI in different phrases the jury then decides, separate half in a bifurcated continuing, the identical jury decides whether or not or not you’re sane or insane on the time of the conduct for which you’re convicted.”
Kelly shared that she “didn’t understand that” an individual has to “undergo a whole trial” and Jackson clarified that it’s “two complete trials.”
Jackson additionally reiterated why he can’t give extra perception into why he determined to exit the case.
“All people’s acquired that very same looming query, and I’m compelled due to authorized requirements and moral obligations; there’s sure issues I merely can’t disclose, Kelly,” he stated on Tuesday. “By way of why there was a change in counsel, why we stepped away and the general public defenders workplace stepped in and I’ll reiterate what I stated within the press convention, which is, my staff, me personally and my staff, stay utterly and totally dedicated to Nick’s finest curiosity. We at all times might be dedicated to his finest pursuits. I would like nothing however one of the best for him and I would like him to get probably the most sturdy protection that he probably can get. And I do know he’ll within the arms of the general public defender’s workplace.”

