[kelnos]

If you lose in court, though, aren't you required to pay the cost of the session? (I have no idea, never done it before, just curious.)

[dmd]

Actually, you even have to pay a court fee in many districts if you WIN in court.

In the above case, I had to pay a $25 "court fee", even though the case against me was dismissed.

[waiwai933]

In criminal court? I can't think of any jurisdiction that charges a fee for pleading not guilty, going to trial, and being convicted.

In civil court outside the US, the loser pays attorney's fees. I don't know about court fees, since those are usually relatively tiny compared to attorney's fees.