Judge Arthur Hunter ordered 42 inmates freed for the excessive time they spent behind bars without adequate access to counsel. Hunter supported public defenders, agreeing that severe underfunding is resulting in overwhelming case loads and they were unable to provide adequate representation to the 42 people, who then faced months and sometimes years in prison without any movement in their case. The mainly minor narcotics charges against the defendants are not dropped-the cases are stayed and the defendants freed on their own recognizance.