# How would a real lawyer deal with a Mrs Kettleman \[possible TV spoilers\]? AKA delusional client? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 17, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214 "2015-05-17T03:12:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![grude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47774/32.png) [@grude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/grude)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/1 "2015-05-17T03:12:03Z")
In the TV show Better Call Saul there is a character Mrs Kettleman who appears almost mentally ill, she can be holding a bag with a million dollars in it and deny with a straight face she has it. How would a real lawyer deal with a client that is delusional? And insists on their innocence despite say video evidence of them committing the crime, or other iron clad evidence and they seem basically actually crazy? And insists on going to trial instead of taking a deal, when there is 0 chance they will be found not guilty? ---
**Author:** ![Habeed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a587f6/32.png) [@Habeed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Habeed)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/2 "2015-05-17T03:33:29Z")
Lawyers can fire clients - they do all the time. If a client does something that undermines the defense strategy, attorneys can dump them. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/3 "2015-05-17T05:13:40Z")
> [@Habeed](#): > > Lawyers can fire clients - they do all the time. If a client does something that undermines the defense strategy, attorneys can dump them. People in this country are guaranteed legal representation if charged with a crime. This usually applies to the indigent, but I’m pretty sure that if someone was just fired by the last attorney in the region and is still facing trial, a public defender would be appointed, and then what would _that_ poor person do? ---
**Author:** ![coremelt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/4491bb/32.png) [@coremelt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coremelt)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/4 "2015-05-17T05:20:53Z")
they’re only provided a public defender if they can’t afford a lawyer, not just because they alienate all the lawyers in town. Presumably if they were that delusional they’d choose to represent themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/5 "2015-05-17T05:40:26Z")
> [@coremelt](#): > > they’re only provided a public defender if they can’t afford a lawyer, not just because they alienate all the lawyers in town. I don’t know; in the wrong town, being gay can be sufficiently alienating all on its own. Ditto having the wrong surname. Notice that neither of those move you into a protected class in all states. ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/6 "2015-05-17T09:39:38Z")
Although once the process is far enough along, the lawyer would need to get the judge’s permission to drop the client and withdraw. In most cases it’s not a problem, but in some circumstances the judge might deny it, particularly if it looks like the client wouldn’t be able to get another lawyer and would have to proceed pro se. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2015, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-would-a-real-lawyer-deal-with-a-mrs-kettleman-possible-tv-spoilers-aka-delusional-client/720214/7 "2015-05-17T12:28:56Z")
I may be misremembering some of the facts from those early episodes, but I think you’re changing them around to fit the question your asking, right? Anyways, I’d think that most people could find a lawyer that would be happy to defend them if they looked hard enough and were willing to pay them enough. If walked into my work, grabbed ten million dollars and walked right back out but was caught a few weeks later. I’m sure if I put out word that I’d be willing to pay a lawyer a few hundred thousand dollars in legal fees, I’d have more than a few of them knocking at my door. Probably with a strategy already in mind before even knowing the first detail. IOW, I don’t think finding a lawyer to defend the guilty is a major hurdle. The Kettleman case was unique in that Jimmy already knew that they had the money. Without that evidence the whole case would have been totally different. That was the only thing tying this altogether. He also told Kim about it which is why HHM was pushing for them to take the deal and not go to court.