No, you likely appeared before a superior court <i>commissioner</i>, not a judge.<p>1. The agency reviews it.<p>2. An &quot;independent&quot; ALJ reviews it.<p>2a. Sometimes the head of the agency can and will review it.<p>3. <i></i>* A superior court commissioner (traffic commissioner) reviews it. <i></i>*<p>4. A superior court judge (a &quot;real judge&quot;) reviews it.<p>#. Courts of appeals do NOT review these cases.<p>#. Supreme Court does NOT review the cases.<p>You got to 3 but you likely never actually saw a judge. A hearing by a &quot;real judge&quot; costs a hell of a lot more than $25 in California.