Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

Re: court

You have a right to counsel. If you want a new attorney, you have a right to retain any attorney of your choosing as long as it does not interfere unreasonably with the court. Generally, the court must approve substitution of counsel in the middle of the case. But the courts are usually very accomodating. You ask about your attorney "firing" you. If by that you mean your lawyer doesn't want to continue representing you, then generally the lawyer must get permission of the court to withdraw. The lawyer cannot simply stop representing you. But if you didn't pay your lawyer as agreed, there is a good chance that the court will let him off the case.