MIAMI -- Miami-Dade County's public defender has filed a motion to turn away any upcoming felony cases, claiming his office is overworked and understaffed.

Public defender Bennett Brummer said his office can't ethically take on more cases than it has the time to handle, stating attorneys are required by the constitution to provide adequate representation for defendants.

Brummer said his office had 9 percent trimmed from the budget this year and the governor is planning to cut an additional 4 percent.

His office handles about 400 felony cases each year, exceeding a normal caseload by about 200. His office also handles about 2,400 misdemeanor cases each year, which exceeds a normal caseload by about 2,000.

Attorneys for Brummer said two other counties in the state have filed similar motions.

Brummer's office has said it would continue to accept first-degree murder and sexual battery cases.

A judge did not make a ruling on the motion in court Thursday. Attorneys asked for the date to be extended for further evaluation.

"We want to have this matter adjudicated as efficiently and as quickly as possible, lay it all out before the judge and get this matter resolved," said Rodolfo Sorondo, a judge with the 3rd District Court of Appeals.