diff --git a/.judge-trigger.txt b/.judge-trigger.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8a0b918
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.judge-trigger.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+# judge trigger 1788203999
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 95f8dee..5f04db1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -185,3 +185,5 @@ review time.
 ## License
 
 Not yet chosen. Until one is added, no reuse rights are granted.
+
+_pilot eval judges test 1788201461_
diff --git a/pilot/eval_judges.py b/pilot/eval_judges.py
index cdea5bc..f7acd5b 100644
--- a/pilot/eval_judges.py
+++ b/pilot/eval_judges.py
@@ -208,18 +208,24 @@ def ensure_evaluators() -> dict:
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 def rule_body(name: str, judge_name: str, sampling: float) -> dict:
-    """POST /evaluation-rules shape for an LLM-as-judge observation rule.
+    """POST /evaluation-rules shape for an LLM-as-judge trace rule.
 
-    The judge is referenced by `name`+`scope`, not by id — ids name specific
-    versions, names name the evaluator across versions. Mapping is required at
-    both the rule root (the server validates it there) and inside `evaluator`
-    (the API echoes it back). Filter is on `traceName` because that is the only
-    stringOptions column the observation-rule schema exposes.
+    Target is `trace` rather than `observation` on purpose: the standard
+    `/api/public/ingestion` path that ships review traces here feeds only
+    the trace-upsert queue, and `evalService.createEvalJobs` only creates
+    jobs for `targetObject ∈ {TRACE, DATASET}`. Observation rules are
+    triggered exclusively from the OTel ingestion pipeline, which this
+    pilot does not use. A trace rule reads the trace's own input/output —
+    `langfuse_trace` already writes `_review_input`/`_review_output` onto
+    the trace body for exactly this reason.
+
+    Mapping is required at both the rule root (server validates it there)
+    and inside `evaluator` (the API echoes it back).
     """
     return {
         "name": name,
         "enabled": True,
-        "target": "observation",
+        "target": "trace",
         "sampling": sampling,
         "filter": [
             {"column": "traceName", "operator": "any of",
diff --git a/tests/pilot/test_eval_judges.py b/tests/pilot/test_eval_judges.py
index 022b4ca..0fe4fe2 100644
--- a/tests/pilot/test_eval_judges.py
+++ b/tests/pilot/test_eval_judges.py
@@ -11,10 +11,16 @@ import eval_judges as ej  # noqa: E402
 
 # --- rule_body ------------------------------------------------------------
 
-def test_rule_body_targets_observations():
-    """Trace-level rules wouldn't see observation input/output."""
+def test_rule_body_targets_traces():
+    """Trace target matches the path `/api/public/ingestion` triggers.
+
+    Observation rules only fire from the OTel ingestion pipeline; this
+    pilot uses standard ingestion, so its jobs only come from
+    `evalService.createEvalJobs` and that dispatcher handles
+    `targetObject ∈ {TRACE, DATASET}`.
+    """
     body = ej.rule_body("rule-x", "finding_actionability", 1.0)
-    assert body["target"] == "observation"
+    assert body["target"] == "trace"
     assert body["enabled"] is True