I don&#x27;t know how it works in SF, but after my final administrative hearing was denied in Oakland in exactly the way you describe, I filed an appeal in the county court, appeared before a real judge, and won: <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=10381103" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;news.ycombinator.com&#x2F;item?id=10381103</a>