In legal terms, what does "dismissed with costs to the state" mean?

[Lil Missy]

The charges were for domestic violence.

[TheWraith]

1. I believe it means the case was dismissed, and the state was awarded legal fees.

I.e. that the other party was required to pay court costs. I could be wrong, it's not a very common term.

[Lil Missy]

2. No shit?? The victim has to pay court costs??

Wow. That blows.

[TheWraith]

3. I'm not sure--don't take my word as gospel.

I'm not a lawyer, just a geek with too much con law reading. However I believe it's sometimes done that a case will be dismissed for one reason or another, but that the non-state party would be viewed as liable for the court costs for having caused the case in the first place. Seems strange that it would be used in a criminal case--usually you see court costs awarded in civil cases.

[TheWraith]

4. Scratch that, it appears I had it backwards.

Dismissed with costs to the state means the state has to pay the court costs, usually used when the state wrongfully files a case.

The other situation is "dismissed with costs to the defendant."

[Sanity Claws]

5. yes court costs

But not attorney fees.

I did civil work and normally court costs are not much in a simple case.