Anna Nicole Smith Gets a Boost in Her Battle for Late Husband's Cash  12/28/05

Anna Nicole Smith has been given a boost as she fights for her late husband's millions - US solicitor general Paul Clement is on her side.

Clement has asked to argue on behalf of the model/actress when she fights for her oil tycoon husband J Howard Marshall in the US Supreme Court in February (06).

President George W Bush's administration is keen for his legal chiefs to oversee Smith's battle because he doesn't want state courts making federal decisions.

Smith was originally awarded $474 million, but a federal district judge in Texas reduced the amount to $89 million before throwing the award out altogether earlier this year (05) when Marshall's son E Pierce Marshall challenged the ruling.

Smith wed J Howard Marshall in 1994 - a year before he died.