text:  The Kailua-Kona Office of the Public Defender has stopped accepting new drug and driving cases and the most serious felony cases because it is short-handed. And a retired Big Island judge is warning that it could affect public safety if something isn't done. The Kona Public Defender's Office notified the judiciary on June 12th it would no longer handle new DUI cases or Class A felonies due to staffing shortages.