My question involves court procedures for the state of: IL

Just wondering - I was unable to attend the hearing & attorney is out of town. Our lawyer went to court to get our fee returned (paid for a Jury trial) opposing council argued should be bench trial & judge agreed.
Case over with (we lost). We asked for fee returned - their council was in court and argued court shouldn't return it. That seems strange. Clerk of court said they were fine with returning it. Judge agreed to return it.
What argument would their lawyer have used to oppose the return of a fee?