Nick Reiner recently appeared in court to formally respond to charges regarding the deaths of his parents.

Despite having a chance to plead in December, his defense attorney, Alan Jackson, requested a postponement. Jackson needed more time to properly consult with Reiner, as they had previously only had about 30 minutes to discuss the case before the initial hearing.

Before his arraignment, Reiner was removed from suicide watch at the Twin Towers Correctional Facility. No longer required to wear a padded smock, he now dons a yellow shirt along with his standard blue uniform pants.

Reiner remains in solitary confinement under High Observation Housing. He will stay there until a judge decides on any relocation. Even if he moves out of HOH, he will still be under close surveillance and housed in a private cell.

Legal analysts suggest that allowing Reiner to switch from a suicide smock to a regular uniform is a strategic win for the District Attorney. This change diminishes the possibility for Reiner’s defense to claim he is too mentally incapacitated to partake in the legal proceedings.

The court will soon determine if this perceived stability is a result of medication or a genuine return to legal competence.

Prosecutors will pounce on Reiner’s statements about cycles of homelessness and rehabilitation, painting him as someone who has long operated outside conventional stability, then use Being Charlie against him—the film demonstrating Reiner’s high level of self-awareness and creative agency.

The outcome of the Reiner trial may set a new standard in California law: how mental disability is weighed against special allegations.

Joining Nancy Grace:

Additional Guests

• Heather Michaels – Reiner Family Friend and Neighbor, Investigative Reporter, Producer and Social Justice Advocate; Instagram: HeatherMichaelsTV, Facebook: HeatherSMichaels
• Chris Melcher – Celebrity Lawyer and Partner at Walzer Melcher & Yoda with Deep Experience in Complex Family Law Litigation
• Rob Shuter – Host: Naughty But Nice Podcast, Author of Newly-released Novel, “It Started With A Whisper;” and Former Publicist of Sean Combs; IG: @naughtygossip
• Sydney Sumner – Investigative Reporter, ‘Crime Stories’

“Crime Stories with Nancy Grace” on Fox Nation is also a national radio show on SiriusXM channel 111, airing for two hours daily starting at 12 p.m. EST. You can also subscribe and download the daily podcasts at iHeart Podcasts.

[Feature Photo: Director Rob Reiner attends the premiere for “LBJ” on day 8 of the Toronto International Film Festival at Roy Thomson Hall on Thursday, Sept. 15, 2016, in Toronto. (Photo by Arthur Mola/Invision/AP)]