Contrary to 40 years of appellate authority, this decision holds that when a trial court must exercise its independent judgment in ruling on an administrative mandamus petition under CCP 1094.5 and the administrative agency was required to apply a clear and convincing evidence standard in the administrative proceeding, the trial court cannot affirm based on a preponderance of the evidence supporting the administrative ruling, but instead must account for the standard of proof in the underlying administrative proceeding when exercising its independent judgment in reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence supporting the administrative agency’s findings.