Legal Question in Criminal Law in California

You can't fire your husband's attorney. Only he can do that. And yes, if he asks for a public defender, the court will take your assets into account as well as your income.

If you and your husband have assets you can liquidate to pay for a lawyer, then that is what you should do. This is the rainy day you have been saving for. There is no reason why the taxpayers should provide a lawyer when you can afford to pay for one.

Besides, generally speaking, public defenders don't have much time to devote to each of their cases. A privately-retained attorney should be able to do a much more thorough job for your husband. Protecting his interests should take priority over holding onto your assets.