text:  It's out there. At least this one little kernel is out there, and we'll see what happens. That was Ali Silvert, retired federal public defender, talking about a recent high court bribery ruling that he says puts more pressure on local governments to pass and enforce tougher public corruption laws. Silvert previously represented Gerald Puana, whose case led to the conviction of Honolulu's former police chief and his wife, a deputy city prosecutor.