(AP) – The Kailua-Kona Public Defender’s Office has stopped accepting new drunken driving cases and the most serious felony cases because it is short-handed. An office memo indicated private, court-appointed lawyers would handle those cases until further notice. First Deputy Public Defender Hayley Cheng said the deputy public defenders’ workloads are extremely heavy, and it is important that the office provide effective representation. She says the decision to limit cases benefits defendants. Retired Third Circuit Chief Judge Robert Kim said the pool of private attorneys willing and able to take court-appointed work is small in Kona. Kim said he fears for the community if it gets to the point that drunken driving cases are dismissed.

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