Free Republic

In the past, the state has reserved about $13 million to help pay for an estimated 12,000 funerals for individuals who relied on public aid. Participating funeral homes were alloted $1,100 for funerals and $552 for the burial. (snip) "Now the only viable option --- I don't mean to make light of it -- is to leave the body at the medical examiner office," Szykowny said. "After 60 to 90 days they'll take the body to what's called a potter's field and bury it in a numbered grave."

Saddam Hussein's family has no money to pay for his defence and his legal team is demanding that either the Iraqi court trying him or the media provide the funds. The former Iraqi dictator is to stand trial over a Shiite massacre in just two weeks. His lawyer, Khalil Dulaimi, says that until now his team has been providing its services for free because Saddam's family "had no money to cover his expenses". He says his team has failed to raise the money from "rich Arabs, including those who had amassed fortunes in doing business with Iraq." Pointing his...

WASHINGTON - Supreme Court justices heard arguments Monday over whether a Michigan law barring the state from paying for appeals for indigent defendants who plead guilty discriminates against the poor. Michigan is the only state with such a law. However, 17 states are backing its case, and advocates for the poor are worried those states will pass similar laws if Michigan prevails. Before the court was the case of Antonio Dwayne Halbert, who pleaded no contest in 2001 to two child molestation charges and received up to 30 years in prison. Halbert, who has learning disabilities, has unsuccessfully sought a...