TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - The Florida Supreme Court is considering whether overburdened public defenders can shed some felony cases.

The justices heard oral argument on the issue Thursday.

Miami's public defender is appealing a lower court ruling that his office could not refuse to accept clients to alleviate a crushing workload.

Public defenders represent criminal defendants who cannot afford a private lawyer.

Miami-based Public Defender Carlos Martinez wanted to stop accepting thousands of lesser third-degree felony cases such as auto theft, forgery and battery.

Martinez said he was unable to hire more lawyers because of a series of budget cuts in recent years.

A trial judge agreed with him in 2008 and shifted some cases to another state legal office for indigents, but the 3rd District Court of Appeal reversed that decision.