diff --git a/Tools/windows/Invoke-UiCaptureWorker.ps1 b/Tools/windows/Invoke-UiCaptureWorker.ps1
index 1da3af1e..be922fe9 100644
--- a/Tools/windows/Invoke-UiCaptureWorker.ps1
+++ b/Tools/windows/Invoke-UiCaptureWorker.ps1
@@ -495,18 +495,28 @@ function Wait-CapVisibleElement {
     )
     Write-CapTrace -Command $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name -Parameters $PSBoundParameters
 
+    $lastSnapshot = $null
+    $lastPollUtc = $null
+    try {
     while ([DateTime]::UtcNow -lt $leaseDeadlineUtc) {
         Assert-CapWorkerDeadline "UIA element $Name"
+        $lastPollUtc = [DateTime]::UtcNow
         try {
             return Find-CapAutomationElement -RootHandle $Window -ProcessIdentity $ProcessIdentity `
                 -Name $Name -AutomationId $AutomationId -AutomationIdPrefix $AutomationIdPrefix `
-                -AllowOffscreen:$AllowOffscreen
+                -AllowOffscreen:$AllowOffscreen -RefusalSnapshot ([ref]$lastSnapshot)
         } catch {
             if ($_.Exception.Message -notmatch 'found=0\.') { throw }
             Start-Sleep -Milliseconds 100
         }
     }
     throw "UIA element '$Name' did not become available before the reserved deadline."
+    } catch {
+        Write-CapTerminalSelectorRefusal -Snapshot $lastSnapshot -Refusal $_ -PollUtc $lastPollUtc `
+            -DeadlineUtc $leaseDeadlineUtc -Window $Window -ProcessIdentity $ProcessIdentity `
+            -Name $Name -AutomationId $AutomationId -AutomationIdPrefix $AutomationIdPrefix -AllowOffscreen:$AllowOffscreen
+        throw
+    }
 }
 
 function Invoke-CapSceneAction {
diff --git a/Tools/windows/Tests/UiCaptureDriver.Tests.ps1 b/Tools/windows/Tests/UiCaptureDriver.Tests.ps1
index 97c61999..f7184240 100644
--- a/Tools/windows/Tests/UiCaptureDriver.Tests.ps1
+++ b/Tools/windows/Tests/UiCaptureDriver.Tests.ps1
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ param(
     [switch]$JournalFirstOpenContractOnly,
     [switch]$JournalObservationContractOnly,
     [switch]$PreflightReportContractOnly,
+    [switch]$SelectorRefusalContractOnly,
     [string]$PrebuiltFixtureManifest = '',
     [string]$PrebuiltFixtureManifestSha256 = '',
     [switch]$RequireRealSeed,
@@ -2216,6 +2217,501 @@ function Invoke-CapPreflightReportContract {
             [Text.Encoding]::UTF8.GetBytes($definition.Extent.Text))) }
 }
 
+function Invoke-CapSelectorRefusalContracts {
+    function New-SelectorCandidate {
+        param([string]$CandidateName = 'Alpha', [string]$Id = 'open-project-alpha',
+            [int]$CandidateProcessId = 4242, [bool]$Offscreen = $false, [double]$Width = 200)
+        return [pscustomobject]@{ Name = $CandidateName; AutomationId = $Id; ProcessId = $CandidateProcessId
+            IsOffscreen = $Offscreen; BoundingRectangle = [pscustomobject]@{
+                Left = 12.0; Top = 20.0; Width = $Width; Height = 24.0 }; ControlType = 'ControlType.Button' }
+    }
+    function Read-SelectorEvidence {
+        param([string]$Path)
+        $rows = @(Get-Content -LiteralPath $Path | ForEach-Object { ConvertFrom-Json $_ -DateKind String } |
+            Where-Object command -CEQ 'CapSelectorRefusal')
+        Assert-CapTest ($rows.Count -eq 1) 'Expected exactly one retained refusal diagnostic.'
+        return ConvertFrom-Json $rows[0].parameters.diagnosticJson -DateKind String
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector refusal zero retains typed stage and candidate evidence' {
+        $candidate = [pscustomobject]@{
+            Name = 'Beta'; AutomationId = 'open-project-beta'; ProcessId = 4242
+            IsOffscreen = $false
+            BoundingRectangle = [pscustomobject]@{ Left = 12.0; Top = 20.0; Width = 200.0; Height = 24.0 }
+            ControlType = 'ControlType.Button'
+        }
+        $message = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @($candidate) -ExpectedProcessId 4242 `
+                -Name Alpha -AutomationIdPrefix 'open-project-'
+        } "Expected exactly one visible UIA element Name='Alpha' id='' prefix='open-project-'; found=0."
+        $records = @(Get-Content -LiteralPath (Join-Path $scratch 'test-calls.jsonl') |
+            ForEach-Object { ConvertFrom-Json $_ -DateKind String } |
+            Where-Object command -CEQ 'CapSelectorRefusal')
+        Assert-CapTest ($records.Count -eq 1) `
+            'Existing zero-match refusal occurred, but retained CapSelectorRefusal evidence is missing.'
+        $evidence = ConvertFrom-Json $records[0].parameters.diagnosticJson -DateKind String
+        Assert-CapTest ($evidence.schema -ceq 'CapSelectorRefusal/1' -and
+            $evidence.refusal.message -ceq $message -and $evidence.expectedProcessId -eq 4242 -and
+            $evidence.stageCounts.total -eq 1 -and $evidence.stageCounts.processOwned -eq 1 -and
+            $evidence.stageCounts.nameMatch -eq 0 -and $evidence.stageCounts.prefixMatch -eq 0 -and
+            $evidence.stageCounts.visible -eq 0 -and $evidence.stageCounts.bounds -eq 0) `
+            'Retained refusal does not bind the original message and cumulative exact selector stages.'
+        Assert-CapTest ($evidence.observedProcessIds.Count -eq 1 -and
+            $evidence.observedProcessIds[0] -is [long] -and $evidence.observedProcessIds[0] -eq 4242 -and
+            $evidence.candidates.Count -eq 1 -and $evidence.candidates[0].Name.value -ceq 'Beta' -and
+            $evidence.candidates[0].AutomationId.value -ceq 'open-project-beta' -and
+            $evidence.candidates[0].ProcessId.value -is [long] -and
+            $evidence.candidates[0].IsOffscreen.value -is [bool] -and
+            $evidence.candidates[0].BoundingRectangle.value.Width -eq 200 -and
+            $evidence.candidates[0].ControlType.value -ceq 'ControlType.Button') `
+            'Candidate evidence must contain actual typed scalar values, not CLR type names.'
+        return @{ originalRefusal = $message; evidence = $evidence; mode = 'Synthetic candidates; actual resolver and retained trace sink; no desktop.' }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector refusal ambiguity preserves original outcome and held context' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-ambiguous.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $context = @{ RootHandle = [IntPtr]77; RootProcessId = 4242; Scope = 'Descendants'; ParameterSet = 'Window'
+            ProcessIdentity = [pscustomobject]@{ Pid = 4242; CreationFileTimeUtc = 123456789L
+                ExpectedImagePath = 'C:\owned\fixture.exe'; Role = 'synthetic-held-generation' } }
+        $message = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @((New-SelectorCandidate), (New-SelectorCandidate)) `
+                -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha -AutomationIdPrefix 'open-project-' -RefusalContext $context
+        } "found=2."
+        $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $path
+        Assert-CapTest ($data.refusal.message -ceq $message -and $data.stageCounts.bounds -eq 2 -and
+            $data.heldContext.rootHandle -eq 77 -and $data.heldContext.identity.Pid.value -eq 4242 -and
+            $data.heldContext.identity.CreationFileTimeUtc.value -eq 123456789L -and
+            $data.stageCountsComplete -and $data.observedProcessIdRawCount -eq 2 -and
+            $data.observedProcessIdDistinctCount -eq 1) 'Ambiguity, held generation or actual PID multiplicity changed.'
+        $legacy = @(Get-Content $path | ForEach-Object { ConvertFrom-Json $_ } |
+            Where-Object command -CEQ 'Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate')
+        Assert-CapTest (-not $legacy[0].parameters.PSObject.Properties['RefusalContext']) 'Diagnostic context leaked into legacy trace.'
+        return $data
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector refusal ownership records the full set without adopting foreign candidates' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-ownership.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $message = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @(
+                (New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateProcessId 9999),
+                (New-SelectorCandidate -Offscreen $true), (New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta)
+            ) -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha -AutomationIdPrefix 'open-project-'
+        } 'UIA subtree process 9999 does not match owned PID 4242.'
+        $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $path
+        Assert-CapTest ($data.refusal.message -ceq $message -and $data.stageCounts.total -eq 3 -and
+            $data.stageCounts.processOwned -eq 2 -and $data.stageCounts.nameMatch -eq 1 -and
+            $data.stageCounts.prefixMatch -eq 1 -and $data.stageCounts.visible -eq 0 -and
+            ($data.observedProcessIds -join ',') -ceq '9999,4242' -and $data.observedProcessIdRawCount -eq 3 -and
+            $data.heldContext.status -ceq 'NotObserved') 'Ownership refusal lost actual full-set stages/PIDs or invented held context.'
+        return $data
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector refusal stages preserve exact optional ID prefix and offscreen rules' {
+        $candidates = @(
+            (New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta), (New-SelectorCandidate -Id unrelated),
+            (New-SelectorCandidate -Offscreen $true), (New-SelectorCandidate -Offscreen $true),
+            (New-SelectorCandidate -Width 0), (New-SelectorCandidate -Width 0)
+        )
+        $details = @()
+        foreach ($variant in @('prefix','offscreen','exact-id','inactive')) {
+            $path = Join-Path $scratch ("selector-stages-$variant.jsonl")
+            Set-CapTracePath $path
+            $parameters = @{ Candidates = $candidates; ExpectedProcessId = 4242; Name = 'Alpha' }
+            if ($variant -ne 'inactive') { $parameters.AutomationIdPrefix = 'open-project-' }
+            if ($variant -in @('offscreen','inactive')) { $parameters.AllowOffscreen = $true }
+            if ($variant -ceq 'exact-id') { $parameters.AutomationId = 'OPEN-PROJECT-alpha' }
+            $null = Assert-CapRejects { Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate @parameters } 'Expected exactly one visible UIA element'
+            $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $path
+            Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.total -eq 6 -and $data.stageCounts.processOwned -eq 6 -and
+                $data.stageCounts.nameMatch -eq 5 -and $data.stageCountsComplete) 'Full-set process/name stage counts changed.'
+            switch ($variant) {
+                'prefix' { Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.automationIdMatch -eq 5 -and
+                    $data.stageCounts.prefixMatch -eq 4 -and $data.stageCounts.visible -eq 2 -and $data.stageCounts.bounds -eq 0) 'Prefix/visibility/bounds counts changed.' }
+                'offscreen' { Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.visible -eq 4 -and $data.stageCounts.bounds -eq 2) 'AllowOffscreen must count rule passage, not actual visibility.' }
+                'exact-id' { Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.automationIdMatch -eq 0 -and $data.stageCounts.prefixMatch -eq 0) 'Exact ID must remain case-sensitive before prefix.' }
+                'inactive' { Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.automationIdMatch -eq 5 -and
+                    $data.stageCounts.prefixMatch -eq 5 -and $data.stageCounts.visible -eq 5 -and $data.stageCounts.bounds -eq 3) 'Inactive rules must propagate their predecessor count.' }
+            }
+            $details += $data
+        }
+        return @{ subcases = $details.Count; evidence = $details }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector refusal caps retain deterministic near matches typed PIDs and Unicode boundaries' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-caps.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $unicode = ('x' * 511) + [char]0xd83d + [char]0xde80 + 'z'
+        $candidates = @(
+            foreach ($i in 0..97) {
+                New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateProcessId (7000 + $i) -CandidateName $unicode -Id $unicode
+            }
+            New-SelectorCandidate -Offscreen $true
+            New-SelectorCandidate -Offscreen $true
+        )
+        $null = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates $candidates -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha -AutomationIdPrefix 'open-project-'
+        } 'UIA subtree process 7000'
+        $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $path
+        Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.total -eq 100 -and $data.stageCounts.processOwned -eq 2 -and
+            $data.stageCounts.prefixMatch -eq 2 -and $data.candidates.Count -eq 16 -and
+            $data.candidatesOmitted -eq 84 -and
+            ($data.candidates.sourceIndex -join ',') -ceq '98,99,0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13') 'Candidate cap/order must prefer deepest stages with stable source ties.'
+        $nameField = $data.candidates[2].Name
+        Assert-CapTest ($nameField.value.Length -eq 511 -and $nameField.originalLength -eq 514 -and
+            $nameField.truncated -and -not [char]::IsHighSurrogate($nameField.value[-1]) -and
+            $data.candidates[2].AutomationId.value.Length -eq 511) 'Scalar truncation split a Unicode surrogate pair.'
+        $null = [Text.UTF8Encoding]::new($false, $true).GetBytes($nameField.value)
+        Assert-CapTest ($data.observedProcessIdRawCount -eq 100 -and $data.observedProcessIdDistinctCount -eq 99 -and
+            $data.observedProcessIdSampleCount -eq 64 -and $data.observedProcessIds.Count -eq 64 -and
+            $data.observedProcessIdsTruncated -and -not $data.observedProcessIdsComplete -and
+            $data.observedProcessIds[0] -eq 7000 -and $data.observedProcessIds[-1] -eq 7063 -and
+            @($data.observedProcessIds | Where-Object { $_ -isnot [long] }).Count -eq 0) 'PID sample is not a bounded typed actual primitive sample with honest counts.'
+        return $data
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector refusal distinguishes missing null and property read errors' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-errors.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $missing = New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta
+        $missing.PSObject.Properties.Remove('ControlType')
+        $nullValue = New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta
+        $nullValue.ControlType = $null
+        $errorValue = New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta
+        $errorValue.PSObject.Properties.Remove('ControlType')
+        $errorValue | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name ControlType -Value { throw 'controltype-observation-error' }
+        $boundsError = New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta
+        $boundsError.BoundingRectangle = [pscustomobject]@{ Left = 1; Top = 2; Height = 3 }
+        $null = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @($missing,$nullValue,$errorValue,$boundsError) -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha
+        } 'found=0.'
+        $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $path
+        Assert-CapTest ($data.candidates[0].ControlType.status -ceq 'Missing' -and
+            $data.candidates[1].ControlType.status -ceq 'Null' -and
+            $data.candidates[2].ControlType.status -ceq 'ReadError' -and
+            $data.candidates[2].ControlType.error.value.Contains('controltype-observation-error') -and
+            $data.candidates[3].BoundingRectangle.status -ceq 'ReadError') 'Unavailable properties were fabricated or collapsed into empty scalar values.'
+        $badName = New-SelectorCandidate
+        $badName.PSObject.Properties.Remove('Name')
+        $path2 = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-stage-error.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path2
+        $null = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @($badName) -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha
+        } "property 'Name'"
+        $incomplete = Read-SelectorEvidence $path2
+        Assert-CapTest (-not $incomplete.stageCountsComplete -and $incomplete.stageReadErrors.nameMatch -eq 1 -and
+            $incomplete.candidates[0].Name.status -ceq 'Missing') 'Stage read error was reported as complete negative matching.'
+        return @{ evidence = $data; incomplete = $incomplete }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector success performs no new diagnostic write property read or serialization' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-success.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $candidate = New-SelectorCandidate
+        $candidate.PSObject.Properties.Remove('ControlType')
+        $candidate | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name ControlType -Value { throw 'Success must not read diagnostic-only ControlType.' }
+        $module = Get-Module UiCaptureDriver
+        $serializationCount = & $module {
+            param($Candidate)
+            $script:SelectorSerializationCount = 0
+            function script:ConvertTo-Json {
+                [CmdletBinding()]
+                param([Parameter(ValueFromPipeline)]$InputObject, [int]$Depth, [switch]$Compress)
+                process {
+                    $script:SelectorSerializationCount++
+                    Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility\ConvertTo-Json -InputObject $InputObject -Depth $Depth -Compress:$Compress
+                }
+            }
+            try {
+                $selected = Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @($Candidate) -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha `
+                    -AutomationIdPrefix 'open-project-' -RefusalContext @{ NotReadOnSuccess = $true }
+                if (-not [object]::ReferenceEquals($selected, $Candidate)) { throw 'Success selection changed.' }
+                return $script:SelectorSerializationCount
+            } finally {
+                Remove-Item Function:\ConvertTo-Json
+                $restored = Get-Command ConvertTo-Json
+                if ($restored.CommandType -ne [Management.Automation.CommandTypes]::Cmdlet -or
+                    $restored.ModuleName -cne 'Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility') { throw 'Serialization spy command resolution was not restored.' }
+                Remove-Variable SelectorSerializationCount -Scope Script
+            }
+        } $candidate
+        $rows = @(Get-Content $path | ForEach-Object { ConvertFrom-Json $_ })
+        Assert-CapTest ($serializationCount -eq 2 -and $rows.Count -eq 2 -and
+            @($rows | Where-Object command -CEQ 'CapSelectorRefusal').Count -eq 0 -and
+            -not $rows[0].parameters.PSObject.Properties['RefusalContext']) `
+            'Successful selector added diagnostic serialization/writes beyond its two original legacy traces.'
+        return @{ actualSerializations = $serializationCount; legacyTraceWrites = $rows.Count; diagnosticWrites = 0 }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector observer failure surfaces explicitly without replacing original ErrorRecord' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-observer-error.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $before = @(Get-CapTraceFailures).Count
+        $errorRecord = $null
+        try {
+            try {
+                $null = Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @((New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName Beta)) `
+                    -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha -RefusalContext @{
+                        RootProcessId = $null; RootHandle = 'deliberately-invalid-observer-context'
+                        Scope = 'Descendants'; ParameterSet = 'Window' }
+            } catch { $errorRecord = $_ }
+            $failures = @(Get-CapTraceFailures)
+            $invocation = if ($errorRecord) { $errorRecord.InvocationInfo } else { $null }
+            $invocationCommand = if ($null -ne $invocation) { $invocation.MyCommand } else { $null }
+            $commandNameProperty = if ($null -ne $invocationCommand) { $invocationCommand.PSObject.Properties['Name'] } else { $null }
+            Write-JournalContractJson (Join-Path $scratch 'selector-observer-error-fields.json') @{
+                errorObserved = ($null -ne $errorRecord)
+                exceptionType = if ($errorRecord) { $errorRecord.Exception.GetType().FullName } else { $null }
+                message = if ($errorRecord) { $errorRecord.Exception.Message } else { $null }
+                fullyQualifiedErrorId = if ($errorRecord) { $errorRecord.FullyQualifiedErrorId } else { $null }
+                category = if ($errorRecord) { [string]$errorRecord.CategoryInfo.Category } else { $null }
+                invocationObserved = ($null -ne $invocation)
+                invocationCommandObserved = ($null -ne $invocationCommand)
+                invocationCommandType = if ($null -ne $invocationCommand) { $invocationCommand.GetType().FullName } else { $null }
+                invocationCommandNameObserved = ($null -ne $commandNameProperty)
+                invocationCommand = if ($null -ne $commandNameProperty) { $commandNameProperty.Value } else { $null }
+                invocationPosition = if ($null -ne $invocation) { $invocation.PositionMessage } else { $null }
+                scriptStackTrace = if ($errorRecord) { $errorRecord.ScriptStackTrace } else { $null }
+                traceFailuresBefore = $before; traceFailuresAfter = $failures.Count; traceFailures = $failures
+            }
+            Assert-CapTest ($null -ne $errorRecord -and $errorRecord.Exception -is [Management.Automation.RuntimeException] -and
+                $errorRecord.Exception.Message -ceq "Expected exactly one visible UIA element Name='Alpha' id='' prefix=''; found=0." -and
+                $errorRecord.FullyQualifiedErrorId -ceq $errorRecord.Exception.Message -and
+                $errorRecord.CategoryInfo.Category -eq [Management.Automation.ErrorCategory]::OperationStopped -and
+                $errorRecord.InvocationInfo.ScriptName -ceq $modulePath -and
+                $errorRecord.InvocationInfo.PositionMessage.Contains('throw "Expected exactly one visible UIA element') -and
+                $errorRecord.ScriptStackTrace.StartsWith('at Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate,', [StringComparison]::Ordinal) -and
+                $failures.Count -eq ($before + 1) -and $failures[-1].command -ceq 'CapSelectorRefusal') `
+                'Observer error masked the original selector ErrorRecord or failed silently.'
+            return @{ originalMessage = $errorRecord.Exception.Message; originalType = $errorRecord.Exception.GetType().FullName
+                surfacedObserverFailure = $failures[-1]; note = 'Deliberate invalid diagnostic context only; selector unchanged.' }
+        } finally {
+            & (Get-Module UiCaptureDriver) { param($Count)
+                while ($script:CapTraceFailures.Count -gt $Count) { $script:CapTraceFailures.RemoveAt($script:CapTraceFailures.Count - 1) }
+            } $before
+        }
+    }
+    function Invoke-SelectorWaitFixture {
+        param([string]$CaseName, [switch]$EventuallySucceeds, [switch]$NoSink, [switch]$BrokenObserver,
+            [switch]$StaleLastPoll)
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch ("selector-wait-$CaseName.jsonl")
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $meter = [pscustomobject]@{ polls = 0; diagnosticReads = 0; diagnosticSerializations = 0; currentReads = 0
+            inBudgetReads = 0; deadline = [DateTime]::UtcNow.AddSeconds(2); lastCandidate = $null
+            lastPoll = $null; failure = $null; selected = $null; snapshot = $null }
+        $module = Get-Module UiCaptureDriver
+        $failuresBefore = @(Get-CapTraceFailures).Count
+        & $module {
+            param($Meter, [bool]$NoSink)
+            $script:SelectorWaitMeter = $Meter
+            if ($NoSink) { $script:CapTracePath = $null }
+            function script:ConvertTo-Json {
+                [CmdletBinding()]
+                param([Parameter(ValueFromPipeline)]$InputObject, [int]$Depth, [switch]$Compress)
+                process {
+                    if ($InputObject -is [Collections.IDictionary] -and $InputObject.Contains('schema') -and
+                        $InputObject['schema'] -ceq 'CapSelectorRefusal/1') { $script:SelectorWaitMeter.diagnosticSerializations++ }
+                    Microsoft.PowerShell.Utility\ConvertTo-Json -InputObject $InputObject -Depth $Depth -Compress:$Compress
+                }
+            }
+        } $meter $NoSink.IsPresent
+        try {
+            $ast = [Management.Automation.Language.Parser]::ParseFile($workerPath,[ref]$null,[ref]$null)
+            foreach ($functionName in @('Wait-CapVisibleElement','Assert-CapWorkerDeadline')) {
+                $definitions = @($ast.FindAll({ param($node)
+                    $node -is [Management.Automation.Language.FunctionDefinitionAst] -and $node.Name -ceq $functionName
+                },$true))
+                Assert-CapTest ($definitions.Count -eq 1) 'Actual worker wait/deadline function is missing or duplicated.'
+                . ([scriptblock]::Create($definitions[0].Extent.Text))
+            }
+            function Find-CapAutomationElement {
+                param([IntPtr]$RootHandle, $ProcessIdentity, [string]$Name, [string]$AutomationId,
+                    [string]$AutomationIdPrefix, [switch]$AllowOffscreen, [ref]$RefusalSnapshot)
+                $meter.polls++
+                $meter.lastPoll = [DateTime]::UtcNow
+                $candidate = New-SelectorCandidate -CandidateName ("Beta-" + $meter.polls)
+                if ($EventuallySucceeds -and $meter.polls -ge 2) { $candidate.Name = 'Alpha' }
+                $candidate.PSObject.Properties.Remove('ControlType')
+                $capturedMeter = $meter
+                $getter = {
+                    $capturedMeter.diagnosticReads++
+                    if ([DateTime]::UtcNow -lt $capturedMeter.deadline) { $capturedMeter.inBudgetReads++ }
+                    return 'ControlType.Button'
+                }.GetNewClosure()
+                $candidate | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name ControlType -Value $getter
+                $meter.lastCandidate = $candidate
+                $parameters = @{ Candidates = @($candidate); ExpectedProcessId = 4242; Name = $Name
+                    AutomationId = $AutomationId; AutomationIdPrefix = $AutomationIdPrefix; AllowOffscreen = $AllowOffscreen
+                    RefusalContext = @{ RootHandle = $RootHandle; RootProcessId = 4242; ProcessIdentity = $ProcessIdentity
+                        Scope = 'Descendants'; ParameterSet = 'Window' } }
+                if ($null -ne $RefusalSnapshot) { $parameters.RefusalSnapshot = $RefusalSnapshot }
+                if ($BrokenObserver) {
+                    $parameters.RefusalContext = @{ RootProcessId = $null; RootHandle = 'deliberately-invalid-observer-context'
+                        Scope = 'Descendants'; ParameterSet = 'Window' }
+                }
+                try { return Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate @parameters }
+                catch {
+                    if ($null -ne $RefusalSnapshot) { $meter.snapshot = $RefusalSnapshot.Value }
+                    if ($StaleLastPoll) {
+                        $staleGetter = { $capturedMeter.currentReads++; throw 'last-poll-element-vanished' }.GetNewClosure()
+                        $candidate | Add-Member -MemberType ScriptProperty -Name Current -Value $staleGetter
+                    }
+                    throw
+                }
+            }
+            $leaseDeadlineUtc = $meter.deadline
+            try {
+                $meter.selected = Wait-CapVisibleElement -Window ([IntPtr]77) -ProcessIdentity ([pscustomobject]@{ Pid = 4242 }) `
+                    -Name Alpha -AutomationIdPrefix 'open-project-'
+            } catch { $meter.failure = $_ }
+            $rows = @()
+            if (Test-Path $path) { $rows = @(Get-Content $path | ForEach-Object { ConvertFrom-Json $_ -DateKind String }) }
+            $caught = $meter.failure
+            $fixtureFailures = @(Get-CapTraceFailures)
+            Write-JournalContractJson (Join-Path $scratch ("selector-wait-$CaseName-fields.json")) ([ordered]@{
+                polls = $meter.polls; diagnosticReads = $meter.diagnosticReads; currentReads = $meter.currentReads
+                diagnosticSerializations = $meter.diagnosticSerializations; inBudgetReads = $meter.inBudgetReads
+                deadlineUtc = $meter.deadline.ToString('o')
+                lastQueryUtc = if ($null -ne $meter.lastPoll) { $meter.lastPoll.ToString('o') } else { $null }
+                snapshotObserved = ($null -ne $meter.snapshot)
+                emissionAttempted = if ($null -ne $meter.snapshot -and $meter.snapshot.Contains('EmissionAttempted')) {
+                    $meter.snapshot.EmissionAttempted
+                } else { $null }
+                selectedObserved = ($null -ne $meter.selected); errorObserved = ($null -ne $caught)
+                exceptionType = if ($null -ne $caught) { $caught.Exception.GetType().FullName } else { $null }
+                message = if ($null -ne $caught) { $caught.Exception.Message } else { $null }
+                fullyQualifiedErrorId = if ($null -ne $caught) { $caught.FullyQualifiedErrorId } else { $null }
+                category = if ($null -ne $caught) { [string]$caught.CategoryInfo.Category } else { $null }
+                scriptStackTrace = if ($null -ne $caught) { $caught.ScriptStackTrace } else { $null }
+                traceRows = $rows.Count; traceFailuresBefore = $failuresBefore
+                traceFailuresAfter = $fixtureFailures.Count
+                traceFailures = @($fixtureFailures | Select-Object command,path,failure)
+            })
+            return [pscustomobject]@{ meter = $meter; tracePath = $path; rows = $rows
+                traceFailures = $fixtureFailures; traceFailuresBefore = $failuresBefore }
+        } finally {
+            & $module {
+                param($Count)
+                Remove-Item Function:\ConvertTo-Json
+                if ((Get-Command ConvertTo-Json).CommandType -ne [Management.Automation.CommandTypes]::Cmdlet) {
+                    throw 'Wait serialization spy was not removed.'
+                }
+                Remove-Variable SelectorWaitMeter -Scope Script
+                while ($script:CapTraceFailures.Count -gt $Count) { $script:CapTraceFailures.RemoveAt($script:CapTraceFailures.Count - 1) }
+            } $failuresBefore
+            Set-CapTracePath -Path (Join-Path $scratch 'test-calls.jsonl')
+        }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'actual worker wait eventual success performs zero refusal observation work' {
+        $run = Invoke-SelectorWaitFixture -CaseName success -EventuallySucceeds
+        Assert-CapTest ($null -eq $run.meter.failure -and $run.meter.polls -eq 2 -and
+            [object]::ReferenceEquals($run.meter.selected, $run.meter.lastCandidate)) 'Actual worker wait did not select its second synthetic query result.'
+        Assert-CapTest ($run.meter.diagnosticReads -eq 0 -and $run.meter.diagnosticSerializations -eq 0 -and
+            @($run.rows | Where-Object command -CEQ 'CapSelectorRefusal').Count -eq 0) `
+            'Eventually successful actual worker wait performed refusal diagnostic reads, serialization or writes inside polling.'
+        return @{ polls = $run.meter.polls; diagnosticReads = $run.meter.diagnosticReads
+            diagnosticSerializations = $run.meter.diagnosticSerializations; diagnosticWrites = 0
+            mode = 'Actual worker wait/deadline and resolver; synthetic query leaf only; real 100ms cadence.' }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'actual worker terminal refusal observes only last poll references after deadline' {
+        $run = Invoke-SelectorWaitFixture -CaseName terminal
+        Assert-CapTest ($run.meter.polls -ge 2 -and $null -ne $run.meter.failure -and
+            $run.meter.failure.Exception.Message -ceq "UIA element 'Alpha' did not become available before the reserved deadline.") `
+            'Actual worker did not preserve its original terminal timeout refusal.'
+        $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $run.tracePath
+        $observedAt = [DateTime]::Parse($data.propertyReadStartedUtc).ToUniversalTime()
+        $polledAt = [DateTime]::Parse($data.terminalObservation.lastPollUtc).ToUniversalTime()
+        Assert-CapTest ($run.meter.diagnosticReads -eq 1 -and $run.meter.diagnosticSerializations -eq 1 -and
+            $run.meter.inBudgetReads -eq 0 -and $data.evidenceKind -ceq 'TERMINAL_LAST_POLL_SNAPSHOT' -and
+            $data.candidates[0].Name.value -ceq ("Beta-" + $run.meter.polls) -and
+            $observedAt -ge $run.meter.deadline -and $polledAt -le $run.meter.lastPoll -and
+            [DateTime]::Parse($data.terminalObservation.waitDeadlineUtc).ToUniversalTime() -eq $run.meter.deadline -and
+            $data.heldContext.rootHandle -eq 77 -and $data.heldContext.identity.Pid.value -eq 4242) `
+            'Terminal observation queried again, observed a prior poll, or read properties inside the wait budget.'
+        $stale = Invoke-SelectorWaitFixture -CaseName stale -StaleLastPoll
+        $staleData = Read-SelectorEvidence $stale.tracePath
+        Assert-CapTest ($stale.meter.polls -ge 2 -and $stale.meter.currentReads -eq 1 -and
+            $staleData.candidates[0].currentStatus -ceq 'ReadError' -and
+            $staleData.candidates[0].current.error.value.Contains('last-poll-element-vanished') -and
+            $staleData.candidates[0].Name.status -ceq 'ReadError' -and
+            -not $staleData.stageCountsComplete -and $staleData.observedProcessIds.Count -eq 0) `
+            'Stale Current getter was collapsed into null/missing or caused a fresh query/invented PID.'
+        return @{ polls = $run.meter.polls; evidence = $data; staleEvidence = $staleData
+            staleCurrentReads = $stale.meter.currentReads; queriesAfterLastPoll = 0 }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'selector special rectangle values retain successful reads and the original raw predicate' {
+        $path = Join-Path $scratch 'selector-special-bounds.jsonl'
+        Set-CapTracePath $path
+        $empty = New-SelectorCandidate
+        $empty.BoundingRectangle = [pscustomobject]@{
+            Left = [double]::PositiveInfinity; Top = [double]::PositiveInfinity
+            Width = [double]::NegativeInfinity; Height = [double]::NegativeInfinity
+        }
+        $nan = New-SelectorCandidate
+        $nan.BoundingRectangle.Width = [double]::NaN
+        $infinity = New-SelectorCandidate
+        $infinity.BoundingRectangle.Width = [double]::PositiveInfinity
+        $candidates = @($empty,$nan,$nan,$infinity,$infinity)
+        $expected = 0
+        foreach ($candidate in $candidates) {
+            $rect = $candidate.BoundingRectangle
+            if ($null -eq $rect -or $rect.Width -le 0 -or $rect.Height -le 0) { continue }
+            $expected++
+        }
+        $null = Assert-CapRejects {
+            Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates $candidates -ExpectedProcessId 4242 -Name Alpha
+        } "found=$expected."
+        $data = Read-SelectorEvidence $path
+        $byIndex = @($data.candidates | Sort-Object sourceIndex)
+        Assert-CapTest ($data.stageCounts.bounds -eq $expected -and $data.stageCountsComplete -and
+            $data.stageReadErrors.bounds -eq 0 -and
+            @($data.candidates | Where-Object { $_.BoundingRectangle.status -cne 'Value' -or
+                -not $_.BoundingRectangle.propertyReadSucceeded }).Count -eq 0 -and
+            $byIndex[0].BoundingRectangle.rectangleKind -ceq 'Empty' -and
+            $byIndex[0].BoundingRectangle.value.Width.numberKind -ceq 'NegativeInfinity' -and
+            $byIndex[0].BoundingRectangle.value.Left.numberKind -ceq 'PositiveInfinity' -and
+            $byIndex[1].BoundingRectangle.value.Width.numberKind -ceq 'NaN' -and
+            $byIndex[3].BoundingRectangle.value.Width.numberKind -ceq 'PositiveInfinity') `
+            'Successful special-number reads were mislabeled ReadError or changed the original raw bounds predicate.'
+        return @{ expectedByOriginalPredicate = $expected; evidence = $data
+            fixture = 'SYNTHETIC canonical Rect.Empty numeric shape; not a genuine WPF instance or live UIA.' }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'actual worker no sink terminal refusal performs zero observation or serialization work' {
+        $run = Invoke-SelectorWaitFixture -CaseName no-sink -NoSink
+        Assert-CapTest ($run.meter.polls -ge 2 -and $null -ne $run.meter.failure -and
+            $run.meter.diagnosticReads -eq 0 -and $run.meter.currentReads -eq 0 -and
+            $run.meter.diagnosticSerializations -eq 0 -and $null -eq $run.meter.snapshot -and
+            $run.rows.Count -eq 0 -and -not (Test-Path $run.tracePath)) `
+            'Missing trace sink still retained/prepared diagnostic context, read properties, serialized or wrote.'
+        return @{ polls = $run.meter.polls; diagnosticReads = 0; diagnosticSerializations = 0; writes = 0 }
+    }
+    Invoke-CapTest 'actual worker observer failure is attempted once per wait and preserves terminal refusal' {
+        $run = Invoke-SelectorWaitFixture -CaseName observer-error -BrokenObserver
+        Assert-CapTest ($run.meter.polls -ge 2 -and $null -ne $run.meter.failure -and
+            $run.meter.failure.Exception.Message -ceq "UIA element 'Alpha' did not become available before the reserved deadline." -and
+            $run.meter.failure.FullyQualifiedErrorId -ceq $run.meter.failure.Exception.Message -and
+            $run.meter.failure.CategoryInfo.Category -eq [Management.Automation.ErrorCategory]::OperationStopped -and
+            $run.meter.diagnosticReads -eq 1 -and $run.meter.inBudgetReads -eq 0 -and
+            $run.traceFailures.Count -eq ($run.traceFailuresBefore + 1) -and
+            $run.traceFailures[-1].command -ceq 'CapSelectorRefusal' -and $run.meter.snapshot.EmissionAttempted) `
+            'Observer failure ran inside polling, repeated, or masked the original worker terminal refusal.'
+        $before = @(Get-CapTraceFailures).Count
+        Write-CapTerminalSelectorRefusal -Snapshot $run.meter.snapshot -Refusal $run.meter.failure `
+            -PollUtc $run.meter.lastPoll -DeadlineUtc $run.meter.deadline
+        Assert-CapTest ($run.meter.diagnosticReads -eq 1 -and @(Get-CapTraceFailures).Count -eq $before) `
+            'Already attempted wait snapshot emitted or failed a second time.'
+        return @{ polls = $run.meter.polls; originalMessage = $run.meter.failure.Exception.Message
+            observerAttempts = 1; explicitFailure = $run.traceFailures[-1] }
+    }
+    Set-CapTracePath -Path (Join-Path $scratch 'test-calls.jsonl')
+}
+
+if ($SelectorRefusalContractOnly) {
+    Invoke-CapSelectorRefusalContracts
+    $passed = @($results | Where-Object passed -EQ $true).Count
+    $failed = @($results | Where-Object passed -EQ $false).Count
+    $report = [pscustomobject]@{ suite = 'UiCaptureSelectorRefusalContracts'; executed = $results.Count
+        passed = $passed; failed = $failed; cases = @($results); sourceHashesBeforeImport = $sourceHashesBefore
+        mode = 'SYNTHETIC_CANDIDATES_ACTUAL_RESOLVER_AND_TRACE_NO_DESKTOP' }
+    $report | ConvertTo-Json -Depth 25 | Set-Content -LiteralPath (Join-Path $scratch 'report.json') -Encoding utf8NoBOM
+    $report | Select-Object suite,executed,passed,failed | ConvertTo-Json -Compress
+    if ($results.Count -ne 13 -or $passed -ne 13 -or $failed -ne 0) { exit 1 }
+    exit 0
+}
+
 if ($PreflightReportContractOnly) {
     Invoke-CapTest 'actual rehearsal data satisfies the repaired report gate and refuses stale proof' { Invoke-CapPreflightReportContract }
     $passed = @($results | Where-Object passed -EQ $true).Count
@@ -2284,6 +2780,7 @@ try {
     } else {
     $cimRaceTarget = $prebuilt.CimRace
     if (-not $LaunchContractOnly) {
+        Invoke-CapSelectorRefusalContracts
         Invoke-CapTest 'prebuilt fixture binder accepts exact artifacts and refuses missing or tampered bytes' { Invoke-CapPrebuiltFixtureContract }
         Invoke-CapTest 'journal phase timing records open copy total without changing budget or retry limits' { Invoke-CapJournalTimingContract }
         Invoke-CapFirstOpenGroups
@@ -3287,6 +3784,6 @@ try {
 }
 [ordered]@{ suite = $suiteName; executed = $results.Count; passed = $passed; failed = $failed; artifacts = $scratch } |
     ConvertTo-Json -Compress
-$expectedCount = if ($JournalContractOnly) { 10 } elseif ($LaunchContractOnly) { 2 } elseif ($RequireRealSeed) { 75 } else { 72 }
+$expectedCount = if ($JournalContractOnly) { 10 } elseif ($LaunchContractOnly) { 2 } elseif ($RequireRealSeed) { 88 } else { 85 }
 if ($results.Count -ne $expectedCount -or $failed -ne 0 -or $passed -ne $results.Count) { exit 1 }
 exit 0
diff --git a/Tools/windows/Tests/ValidationRunner.Tests.ps1 b/Tools/windows/Tests/ValidationRunner.Tests.ps1
index 10d47657..616a42c8 100644
--- a/Tools/windows/Tests/ValidationRunner.Tests.ps1
+++ b/Tools/windows/Tests/ValidationRunner.Tests.ps1
@@ -4729,7 +4729,7 @@ if ($LASTEXITCODE -ne 0) { throw "RED: offline real-launch capture child failed"
 $uiCaptureSummaries = @($uiCaptureOutput | Where-Object { $_ -is [string] -and $_.StartsWith('{"suite":"UiCaptureDriver",') })
 if ($uiCaptureSummaries.Count -ne 1) { throw "RED: offline real-launch capture structured count missing or duplicated" }
 $uiCaptureSummary = ConvertFrom-Json $uiCaptureSummaries[0]
-if ($uiCaptureSummary.executed -isnot [long] -or $uiCaptureSummary.executed -le 0 -or
+if ($uiCaptureSummary.executed -isnot [long] -or $uiCaptureSummary.executed -ne 85 -or
     $uiCaptureSummary.passed -isnot [long] -or $uiCaptureSummary.passed -ne $uiCaptureSummary.executed -or
     $uiCaptureSummary.failed -isnot [long] -or $uiCaptureSummary.failed -ne 0) {
   throw "RED: offline real-launch capture child has no positive executed/passed contract count"
diff --git a/Tools/windows/UiCaptureDriver.psm1 b/Tools/windows/UiCaptureDriver.psm1
index c87dcb53..b9b8b1f7 100644
--- a/Tools/windows/UiCaptureDriver.psm1
+++ b/Tools/windows/UiCaptureDriver.psm1
@@ -930,6 +930,266 @@ function Assert-CapUiaProcessIds {
     return $true
 }
 
+function Write-CapSelectorRefusal {
+    param($Candidates, [bool]$CandidatesObserved, [Nullable[int]]$ExpectedProcessId, [string]$Name,
+        [string]$AutomationId, [string]$AutomationIdPrefix, [bool]$AllowOffscreen,
+        [Management.Automation.ErrorRecord]$Refusal, $Context, $TerminalObservation)
+    if (-not $script:CapTracePath) { return }
+    try {
+        $propertyReadStartedUtc = [DateTime]::UtcNow.ToString('o')
+        function Limit-RefusalString {
+            param([string]$Value, [int]$Limit = 512)
+            $length = $Value.Length
+            $take = [Math]::Min($length, $Limit)
+            if ($take -gt 0 -and $take -lt $length -and [char]::IsHighSurrogate($Value[$take - 1])) { $take-- }
+            $text = [Text.StringBuilder]::new($take)
+            $replaced = $false
+            for ($i = 0; $i -lt $take; $i++) {
+                $character = $Value[$i]
+                if ([char]::IsHighSurrogate($character) -and $i + 1 -lt $take -and [char]::IsLowSurrogate($Value[$i + 1])) {
+                    $null = $text.Append($character).Append($Value[++$i])
+                } elseif ([char]::IsSurrogate($character)) {
+                    $null = $text.Append([char]0xfffd)
+                    $replaced = $true
+                } else { $null = $text.Append($character) }
+            }
+            return [ordered]@{ value = $text.ToString(); originalLength = $length; truncated = ($take -lt $length)
+                invalidSurrogatesReplaced = $replaced }
+        }
+        function Read-RefusalField {
+            param($Object, [string]$Property, [string]$Kind = 'String', [int]$Limit = 512)
+            $record = [ordered]@{ status = 'Missing'; value = $null; propertyReadSucceeded = $null }
+            $raw = $null
+            try {
+                if ($null -ne $Object -and $Object.PSObject.Properties[$Property]) {
+                    $raw = $Object.PSObject.Properties[$Property].get_Value()
+                    $record.propertyReadSucceeded = $true
+                    if ($null -eq $raw) { $record.status = 'Null' }
+                    else {
+                        $record.status = 'Value'
+                        switch ($Kind) {
+                            'Current' { }
+                            'Int' {
+                                if (($raw -isnot [int] -and $raw -isnot [long]) -or
+                                    $raw -lt [int]::MinValue -or $raw -gt [int]::MaxValue) { throw 'Not an Int32 primitive.' }
+                                $record.value = [int]$raw
+                            }
+                            'Long' {
+                                if ($raw -isnot [int] -and $raw -isnot [long]) { throw 'Not an Int64 primitive.' }
+                                $record.value = [long]$raw
+                            }
+                            'Bool' {
+                                if ($raw -isnot [bool]) { throw 'Not a Boolean primitive.' }
+                                $record.value = $raw
+                            }
+                            'Rectangle' {
+                                $rectangle = [ordered]@{}
+                                $numbers = [ordered]@{}
+                                foreach ($part in @('Left','Top','Width','Height')) {
+                                    $partProperty = $raw.PSObject.Properties[$part]
+                                    if ($null -eq $partProperty) { throw "Rectangle property '$part' is missing." }
+                                    $number = [double]$partProperty.get_Value()
+                                    $numbers[$part] = $number
+                                    $rectangle[$part] = if ([double]::IsNaN($number)) {
+                                        [ordered]@{ numberKind = 'NaN' }
+                                    } elseif ([double]::IsPositiveInfinity($number)) {
+                                        [ordered]@{ numberKind = 'PositiveInfinity' }
+                                    } elseif ([double]::IsNegativeInfinity($number)) {
+                                        [ordered]@{ numberKind = 'NegativeInfinity' }
+                                    } else { $number }
+                                }
+                                $record.value = $rectangle
+                                $record.rectangleKind = if ([double]::IsPositiveInfinity($numbers.Left) -and
+                                    [double]::IsPositiveInfinity($numbers.Top) -and
+                                    [double]::IsNegativeInfinity($numbers.Width) -and
+                                    [double]::IsNegativeInfinity($numbers.Height)) { 'Empty' } else { 'Rectangle' }
+                            }
+                            default {
+                                $text = if ($Kind -ceq 'ControlType' -and $raw -isnot [string]) {
+                                    [string]$raw.ProgrammaticName
+                                } else { [string]$raw }
+                                $bounded = Limit-RefusalString $text $Limit
+                                $record.value = $bounded.value
+                                $record.originalLength = $bounded.originalLength
+                                $record.truncated = $bounded.truncated
+                                $record.invalidSurrogatesReplaced = $bounded.invalidSurrogatesReplaced
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            } catch {
+                $record.status = 'ReadError'
+                $record.value = $null
+                $record.propertyReadSucceeded = $false
+                $record.error = Limit-RefusalString $_.Exception.Message 256
+                $record.errorType = (Limit-RefusalString $_.Exception.GetType().FullName 128).value
+            }
+            return [pscustomobject]@{ Raw = $raw; Record = $record }
+        }
+        $counts = [ordered]@{ total = $null; processOwned = $null; nameMatch = $null; automationIdMatch = $null
+            prefixMatch = $null; visible = $null; bounds = $null }
+        $stageErrors = [ordered]@{ processOwned = 0; nameMatch = 0; automationIdMatch = 0; prefixMatch = 0; visible = 0; bounds = 0 }
+        $sample = [Collections.Generic.List[object]]::new()
+        $pids = [Collections.Generic.HashSet[int]]::new()
+        $pidSample = [Collections.Generic.List[int]]::new()
+        $rawPidCount = 0
+        $pidUnavailableCount = 0
+        if ($CandidatesObserved) {
+            foreach ($key in @($counts.Keys)) { $counts[$key] = 0 }
+            $index = 0
+            foreach ($candidate in $Candidates) {
+                $counts.total++
+                $current = $candidate
+                $currentStatus = 'Value'
+                $currentRecord = [ordered]@{ status = 'DirectCandidate'; propertyReadSucceeded = $null }
+                if ($null -eq $candidate) { $currentStatus = 'Null' }
+                elseif ($candidate.PSObject.Properties['Current']) {
+                    $reading = Read-RefusalField $candidate 'Current' 'Current'
+                    $current = $reading.Raw
+                    $currentRecord = $reading.Record
+                    $currentStatus = $reading.Record.status
+                }
+                $fields = [ordered]@{}
+                foreach ($spec in @(
+                    @('Name','String',512), @('AutomationId','String',512), @('ProcessId','Int',512),
+                    @('IsOffscreen','Bool',512), @('BoundingRectangle','Rectangle',512), @('ControlType','ControlType',128)
+                )) {
+                    $field = Read-RefusalField $current $spec[0] $spec[1] $spec[2]
+                    if ($currentStatus -ceq 'ReadError') {
+                        $field.Record.status = 'ReadError'
+                        $field.Record.propertyReadSucceeded = $false
+                        $field.Record.error = $currentRecord.error
+                        $field.Record.errorType = $currentRecord.errorType
+                    }
+                    $fields[$spec[0]] = $field
+                }
+                $pidField = $fields.ProcessId
+                if ($pidField.Record.status -ceq 'Value') {
+                    $rawPidCount++
+                    if ($pids.Add([int]$pidField.Raw) -and $pidSample.Count -lt 64) { $pidSample.Add([int]$pidField.Raw) }
+                } else { $pidUnavailableCount++ }
+                $eligible = $true
+                $rank = 0
+                foreach ($stage in @('processOwned','nameMatch','automationIdMatch','prefixMatch','visible','bounds')) {
+                    if (-not $eligible) { break }
+                    $fieldName = switch ($stage) {
+                        'processOwned' { 'ProcessId' }
+                        'nameMatch' { 'Name' }
+                        'automationIdMatch' { 'AutomationId' }
+                        'prefixMatch' { 'AutomationId' }
+                        'visible' { 'IsOffscreen' }
+                        'bounds' { 'BoundingRectangle' }
+                    }
+                    $inactive = ($stage -ceq 'automationIdMatch' -and -not $AutomationId) -or
+                        ($stage -ceq 'prefixMatch' -and -not $AutomationIdPrefix) -or
+                        ($stage -ceq 'visible' -and $AllowOffscreen)
+                    $field = $fields[$fieldName]
+                    if (-not $inactive -and $field.Record.status -in @('Missing','ReadError')) {
+                        $stageErrors[$stage]++
+                        $eligible = $false
+                        break
+                    }
+                    $eligible = $inactive -or $(switch ($stage) {
+                        'processOwned' { $field.Record.status -ceq 'Value' -and [int]$field.Raw -eq $ExpectedProcessId -and [int]$field.Raw -gt 0 }
+                        'nameMatch' { [string]$field.Raw -ceq $Name }
+                        'automationIdMatch' { [string]$field.Raw -ceq $AutomationId }
+                        'prefixMatch' { ([string]$field.Raw).StartsWith($AutomationIdPrefix, [StringComparison]::Ordinal) }
+                        'visible' { -not [bool]$field.Raw }
+                        'bounds' { -not ($null -eq $field.Raw -or $field.Raw.Width -le 0 -or $field.Raw.Height -le 0) }
+                    })
+                    if ($eligible) { $counts[$stage]++; $rank++ }
+                }
+                $row = [ordered]@{ sourceIndex = $index; passedStages = $rank; currentStatus = $currentStatus
+                    current = $currentRecord }
+                foreach ($key in $fields.Keys) { $row[$key] = $fields[$key].Record }
+                $sample.Add([pscustomobject]$row)
+                if ($sample.Count -gt 16) {
+                    $worst = 0
+                    for ($i = 1; $i -lt $sample.Count; $i++) {
+                        if ($sample[$i].passedStages -lt $sample[$worst].passedStages -or
+                            ($sample[$i].passedStages -eq $sample[$worst].passedStages -and
+                                $sample[$i].sourceIndex -gt $sample[$worst].sourceIndex)) { $worst = $i }
+                    }
+                    $sample.RemoveAt($worst)
+                }
+                $index++
+            }
+        }
+        $held = [ordered]@{ status = 'NotObserved' }
+        if ($null -ne $Context) {
+            $held = [ordered]@{ status = 'Observed'; rootHandle = $null; rootProcessId = $Context.RootProcessId
+                rootProcessIdStatus = if ($null -eq $Context.RootProcessId) { 'NotObserved' } else { 'Observed' }
+                parameterSet = [string]$Context.ParameterSet; scope = [string]$Context.Scope
+                identity = [ordered]@{} }
+            if ($null -ne $Context.RootHandle) { $held.rootHandle = $Context.RootHandle.ToInt64() }
+            foreach ($property in @('Pid','CreationFileTimeUtc','ExpectedImagePath','Role')) {
+                $kind = if ($property -ceq 'Pid') { 'Int' } elseif ($property -ceq 'CreationFileTimeUtc') { 'Long' } else { 'String' }
+                $held.identity[$property] = (Read-RefusalField $Context.ProcessIdentity $property $kind).Record
+            }
+        }
+        $complete = $CandidatesObserved
+        foreach ($key in $stageErrors.Keys) { if ($stageErrors[$key] -gt 0) { $complete = $false } }
+        $diagnostic = [ordered]@{
+            schema = 'CapSelectorRefusal/1'
+            evidenceKind = if ($null -ne $TerminalObservation) { 'TERMINAL_LAST_POLL_SNAPSHOT' } else { 'DIRECT_SELECTOR_REFUSAL' }
+            terminalObservation = $TerminalObservation
+            propertyReadStartedUtc = $propertyReadStartedUtc
+            selector = [ordered]@{ Name = Limit-RefusalString $Name; AutomationId = Limit-RefusalString $AutomationId
+                AutomationIdPrefix = Limit-RefusalString $AutomationIdPrefix; allowOffscreen = $AllowOffscreen }
+            expectedProcessId = $ExpectedProcessId; heldContext = $held
+            refusal = [ordered]@{ type = $Refusal.Exception.GetType().FullName
+                message = (Limit-RefusalString $Refusal.Exception.Message 1024).value
+                messageLength = $Refusal.Exception.Message.Length; messageTruncated = ($Refusal.Exception.Message.Length -gt 1024) }
+            candidatesObserved = $CandidatesObserved; stageCounts = $counts; stageReadErrors = $stageErrors
+            stageCountsComplete = $complete
+            samplePolicy = 'deepest-passed-stage-then-source-index'; candidateLimit = 16
+            candidateSampleCount = $sample.Count
+            candidatesOmitted = if ($CandidatesObserved) { $counts.total - $sample.Count } else { $null }
+            candidates = @($sample | Sort-Object @{ Expression = 'passedStages'; Descending = $true }, sourceIndex)
+            observedProcessIds = @($pidSample.ToArray()); observedProcessIdLimit = 64
+            observedProcessIdRawCount = $rawPidCount; observedProcessIdDistinctCount = $pids.Count
+            observedProcessIdSampleCount = $pidSample.Count; observedProcessIdsTruncated = ($pids.Count -gt 64)
+            observedProcessIdsComplete = ($CandidatesObserved -and $pidUnavailableCount -eq 0 -and $pids.Count -le 64)
+            observedProcessIdUnavailableCount = $pidUnavailableCount
+        }
+        $json = ConvertTo-Json -InputObject $diagnostic -Depth 16 -Compress
+        Write-CapTrace -Command 'CapSelectorRefusal' -Parameters @{ diagnosticJson = $json }
+    } catch {
+        if (-not @($script:CapTraceFailures | Where-Object command -CEQ 'CapSelectorRefusal').Count) {
+            $script:CapTraceFailures.Add([pscustomobject]@{
+                command = 'CapSelectorRefusal'; path = $script:CapTracePath; failure = $_.Exception.ToString()
+            })
+            [Console]::Error.WriteLine("CAP_TRACE_FAILURE command=CapSelectorRefusal: $($_.Exception.Message)")
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+function Write-CapTerminalSelectorRefusal {
+    [CmdletBinding()]
+    param($Snapshot, [Management.Automation.ErrorRecord]$Refusal, [Nullable[DateTime]]$PollUtc,
+        [DateTime]$DeadlineUtc, [IntPtr]$Window, $ProcessIdentity, [string]$Name,
+        [string]$AutomationId, [string]$AutomationIdPrefix, [switch]$AllowOffscreen)
+    if (-not $script:CapTracePath) { return }
+    if ($null -ne $Snapshot) {
+        if ($Snapshot.EmissionAttempted) { return }
+        $Snapshot.EmissionAttempted = $true
+    } else {
+        $Snapshot = @{ Candidates = $null; CandidatesObserved = $false
+            ExpectedProcessId = $null; Name = $Name; AutomationId = $AutomationId
+            AutomationIdPrefix = $AutomationIdPrefix; AllowOffscreen = $AllowOffscreen.IsPresent
+            Context = @{ RootHandle = $Window; RootProcessId = $null; ProcessIdentity = $ProcessIdentity
+                Scope = 'Descendants'; ParameterSet = 'Window' } }
+    }
+    Write-CapSelectorRefusal -Candidates $Snapshot.Candidates -CandidatesObserved $Snapshot.CandidatesObserved `
+        -ExpectedProcessId $Snapshot.ExpectedProcessId -Name $Snapshot.Name -AutomationId $Snapshot.AutomationId `
+        -AutomationIdPrefix $Snapshot.AutomationIdPrefix -AllowOffscreen $Snapshot.AllowOffscreen `
+        -Refusal $Refusal -Context $Snapshot.Context -TerminalObservation ([ordered]@{
+            lastPollUtc = if ($null -ne $PollUtc) { $PollUtc.ToString('o') } else { $null }
+            waitDeadlineUtc = $DeadlineUtc.ToString('o'); failureObservedUtc = [DateTime]::UtcNow.ToString('o')
+            meaning = 'Last poll references; property values are read after terminal failure, not frozen at poll time.'
+        })
+}
+
 function Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate {
     [CmdletBinding()]
     param(
@@ -938,11 +1198,17 @@ function Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate {
         [Parameter(Mandatory)][string]$Name,
         [string]$AutomationId,
         [string]$AutomationIdPrefix,
-        [switch]$AllowOffscreen
+        [switch]$AllowOffscreen,
+        [System.Collections.IDictionary]$RefusalContext,
+        [ref]$RefusalSnapshot
     )
-    Write-CapTrace -Command $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name -Parameters $PSBoundParameters
-
+    $traceParameters = [ordered]@{}
+    foreach ($key in $PSBoundParameters.Keys) {
+        if ($key -cnotin @('RefusalContext','RefusalSnapshot')) { $traceParameters[$key] = $PSBoundParameters[$key] }
+    }
+    Write-CapTrace -Command $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name -Parameters $traceParameters
 
+    try {
     $found = [Collections.Generic.List[object]]::new()
     foreach ($candidate in $Candidates) {
         if ($null -eq $candidate) { throw 'UIA resolver returned a null candidate.' }
@@ -960,6 +1226,20 @@ function Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate {
         throw "Expected exactly one visible UIA element Name='$Name' id='$AutomationId' prefix='$AutomationIdPrefix'; found=$($found.Count)."
     }
     return $found[0]
+    } catch {
+        if ($script:CapTracePath) {
+            if ($null -ne $RefusalSnapshot) {
+                $RefusalSnapshot.Value = @{ Candidates = $Candidates; CandidatesObserved = $true; ExpectedProcessId = $ExpectedProcessId
+                    Name = $Name; AutomationId = $AutomationId; AutomationIdPrefix = $AutomationIdPrefix
+                    AllowOffscreen = $AllowOffscreen.IsPresent; Context = $RefusalContext; EmissionAttempted = $false }
+            } else {
+                Write-CapSelectorRefusal -Candidates $Candidates -CandidatesObserved $true -ExpectedProcessId $ExpectedProcessId `
+                    -Name $Name -AutomationId $AutomationId -AutomationIdPrefix $AutomationIdPrefix `
+                    -AllowOffscreen $AllowOffscreen.IsPresent -Refusal $_ -Context $RefusalContext
+            }
+        }
+        throw
+    }
 }
 
 function Find-CapAutomationElement {
@@ -973,11 +1253,19 @@ function Find-CapAutomationElement {
         [string]$AutomationId,
         [string]$AutomationIdPrefix,
         [System.Windows.Automation.TreeScope]$Scope = [System.Windows.Automation.TreeScope]::Descendants,
-        [switch]$AllowOffscreen
+        [switch]$AllowOffscreen,
+        [ref]$RefusalSnapshot
     )
-    Write-CapTrace -Command $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name -Parameters $PSBoundParameters
+    $traceParameters = [ordered]@{}
+    foreach ($key in $PSBoundParameters.Keys) {
+        if ($key -cne 'RefusalSnapshot') { $traceParameters[$key] = $PSBoundParameters[$key] }
+    }
+    Write-CapTrace -Command $MyInvocation.MyCommand.Name -Parameters $traceParameters
 
 
+    $resolving = $false
+    $rootProcessId = $null
+    try {
     $rootElement = if ($PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName -eq 'Window') {
         [System.Windows.Automation.AutomationElement]::FromHandle($RootHandle)
     } else {
@@ -997,8 +1285,30 @@ function Find-CapAutomationElement {
     }
     $null = Assert-CapUiaProcessIds -ExpectedProcessId $ExpectedProcessId -ObservedProcessIds @($rootProcessId)
     $elements = $rootElement.FindAll($Scope, [System.Windows.Automation.Condition]::TrueCondition)
+    $resolving = $true
     return Resolve-CapAutomationCandidate -Candidates @($elements) -ExpectedProcessId $ExpectedProcessId `
-        -Name $Name -AutomationId $AutomationId -AutomationIdPrefix $AutomationIdPrefix -AllowOffscreen:$AllowOffscreen
+        -Name $Name -AutomationId $AutomationId -AutomationIdPrefix $AutomationIdPrefix -AllowOffscreen:$AllowOffscreen `
+        -RefusalSnapshot $RefusalSnapshot -RefusalContext $(if ($script:CapTracePath) {
+            @{ RootHandle = if ($PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName -eq 'Window') { $RootHandle } else { $null }
+                ProcessIdentity = $ProcessIdentity; RootProcessId = $rootProcessId; Scope = $Scope; ParameterSet = $PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName }
+        } else { $null })
+    } catch {
+        if (-not $resolving -and $script:CapTracePath) {
+            $context = @{
+                    RootHandle = if ($PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName -eq 'Window') { $RootHandle } else { $null }
+                    ProcessIdentity = $ProcessIdentity; RootProcessId = $rootProcessId; Scope = $Scope; ParameterSet = $PSCmdlet.ParameterSetName }
+            if ($null -ne $RefusalSnapshot) {
+                $RefusalSnapshot.Value = @{ Candidates = $null; CandidatesObserved = $false; ExpectedProcessId = $ExpectedProcessId
+                    Name = $Name; AutomationId = $AutomationId; AutomationIdPrefix = $AutomationIdPrefix
+                    AllowOffscreen = $AllowOffscreen.IsPresent; Context = $context; EmissionAttempted = $false }
+            } else {
+                Write-CapSelectorRefusal -Candidates $null -CandidatesObserved $false -ExpectedProcessId $ExpectedProcessId `
+                    -Name $Name -AutomationId $AutomationId -AutomationIdPrefix $AutomationIdPrefix `
+                    -AllowOffscreen $AllowOffscreen.IsPresent -Refusal $_ -Context $context
+            }
+        }
+        throw
+    }
 }
 
 function Get-CapDirectChildren {
@@ -3353,6 +3663,7 @@ Export-ModuleMember -Function @(
     'Assert-CapNoWorkerTransientArtifacts',
     'Set-CapTracePath',
     'Write-CapTrace',
+    'Write-CapTerminalSelectorRefusal',
     'Get-CapTraceFailures',
     'Assert-CapArtifactPath',
     'Assert-CapZmxLeasePath',
diff --git a/windows-tests/ui-scenarios/README.md b/windows-tests/ui-scenarios/README.md
index 53eb5043..1a54ac6a 100644
--- a/windows-tests/ui-scenarios/README.md
+++ b/windows-tests/ui-scenarios/README.md
@@ -386,13 +386,13 @@ Test definitions retain the original 59 cases (the native export contract is
 updated to 26), adding three contained harmless normal/nonzero/timeout cases,
 one STD source-ordering check, and N1's full numbered-final-proof synthetic
 output-descendant accept/refusal fixture, plus one negative umbrella safety-net
-release assertion, lease-path and receipt-IO groups, prebuilt binding, journal-phase timing, first-Open and buffered-observation contracts: 72 expected cases. N1 is not real
+release assertion, lease-path and receipt-IO groups, prebuilt binding, journal-phase timing, first-Open, buffered-observation and selector-refusal contracts: 85 expected cases. N1 is not real
 seed evidence. `-RequireRealSeed` additionally defines three actual-command
 cases: two real zmx phases before a normal, nonzero, or timed-out harmless
-target, for 75 expected cases. It requires explicit `-RealSeedZmxPath` and
+target, for 88 expected cases. It requires explicit `-RealSeedZmxPath` and
 `-RealSeedZmxSha256` inputs admitted against the pinned provider; there is no
 PATH or stale-candidate fallback. Without those cases, the repaired report
-gate refuses live admission even if the 72 offline cases pass.
+gate refuses live admission even if the 85 offline cases pass.
 
 None of these new native cases ran during M1. Parse/compile-only evidence
 does not establish job nesting, gate timing, output transport, native STD
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ test override. Retry trace observations assert actual sharing/parse retries.
 release case for discriminating RED/GREEN evidence.
 
 These five contracts are registered as one full-suite case within the current
-72/75 prospective counts above. Focused reports are named
+85/88 prospective counts above. Focused reports are named
 `UiCaptureReceiptContracts` and cannot stand in for a complete capture
 preflight. A file-IO GREEN is not native lifecycle or job-zero GREEN.
 The strict outer job-zero gate remains unchanged; there is no vctip exemption.
@@ -629,8 +629,9 @@ pwsh -NoProfile -File Tools\windows\Tests\UiCaptureDriver.Tests.ps1 `
 
 The two prior #845 setup groups gave the historical 69 offline / 72 real-seed
 inventory. The two #851 first-Open groups brought that inventory to 71 offline / 74
-real-seed cases. The #852 buffered-observation group brings current full-suite
-expectations to 72 offline / 75 real-seed cases. Historical run counts are not
+real-seed cases. The #852 buffered-observation group brought that inventory
+to 72 offline / 75 real-seed cases. The thirteen #848 selector-refusal groups
+bring current full-suite expectations to 85 offline / 88 real-seed cases. Historical run counts are not
 relabelled by these additions. A focused
 setup-contract pass is not a complete capture, native job-zero or parity pass.
 
@@ -641,3 +642,91 @@ does not add a suite job; precompilation there preserves the same input
 contract, not a claim of vctip containment. An isolated execution of its
 capture-caller slice is not the full ValidationRunner or the separate
 real-zmx qualification run.
+
+## Selector refusal diagnostics (issue 848)
+
+An already-refusing direct selector writes one `CapSelectorRefusal` record through the
+existing trace sink. Its `parameters.diagnosticJson` string is bounded JSON with
+schema `CapSelectorRefusal/1`; consumers parse that string as JSON rather than
+treating legacy CLR type names as candidate or PID evidence. The original
+exception type, message and ErrorRecord are rethrown unchanged. An observer
+failure is surfaced as `CAP_TRACE_FAILURE` and by `Get-CapTraceFailures`, not
+substituted for the selector refusal. Successful selectors add no diagnostic
+property reads, serialization or writes.
+
+The worker's actual `Wait-CapVisibleElement` is different from a direct selector:
+its zero-match refusals are intermediate polls, not terminal wait failures.
+Polling retains only the last already-enumerated candidate references and cheap
+call context. It does no diagnostic property reads, projection, serialization
+or writes. Only after the wait definitively fails does it attempt one
+`TERMINAL_LAST_POLL_SNAPSHOT` record, outside the wait budget, without another
+tree/window query. The original wait refusal remains primary. This adds no
+timeout allowance or retry. With no trace sink, neither the resolver nor the
+terminal observer prepares a snapshot/context or performs diagnostic work.
+An attempted snapshot cannot emit or report an observer failure twice.
+
+`terminalObservation.lastPollUtc` and `waitDeadlineUtc` bind the retained
+references to the wait; `failureObservedUtc` and `propertyReadStartedUtc` mark
+the later observation. The properties are deliberately read **after failure**,
+not frozen values from the last poll. They may have changed or vanished.
+An unavailable `Current` getter is retained as a typed read error and is
+propagated to the unavailable candidate fields, never treated as an empty
+element or a reason to query again.
+
+`stageCounts` scans the full existing candidate collection, cumulatively in the
+original order: process-owned, exact case-sensitive Name, optional exact ID,
+optional ordinal prefix, visibility rule, positive bounds. Inactive optional
+stages propagate the previous count. With `AllowOffscreen`, `visible` counts
+passage through the visibility **rule**, not actually visible elements.
+`stageReadErrors` and `stageCountsComplete` distinguish unavailable decision
+properties from observed negative matches. A query not reached is
+`candidatesObserved=false`, with null counts, not an invented empty result.
+Held window/process-generation context comes only from existing call data;
+unavailable context/root PID is labelled `NotObserved`.
+
+At most 16 candidates are retained, ranked by deepest passed cumulative stage
+then original source index. Total/sample/omitted counts and the sample policy
+are explicit. Each Name, AutomationId, ProcessId, IsOffscreen, BoundingRectangle
+and ControlType field distinguishes `Value`, `Null`, `Missing` and `ReadError`.
+Successfully read `Rect.Empty` remains `Value` with `rectangleKind=Empty`.
+Finite rectangle coordinates are JSON numbers; special coordinates are typed
+`numberKind` markers (`NaN`, `PositiveInfinity`, `NegativeInfinity`).
+`propertyReadSucceeded` distinguishes those real values from failed reads.
+The bounds stage uses the original raw null/Width-less-than-or-equal-zero/
+Height-less-than-or-equal-zero rejection predicate literally, including its
+special-number semantics; it does not replace it with a positive comparison.
+ControlType is a scalar programmatic-name string, not a serialized UIA object.
+Strings are capped at 512 UTF-16 units (ControlType 128, errors 256, recorded
+refusal message 1024), with original-length/truncation metadata. Truncation
+never splits a surrogate pair; isolated surrogates are replaced and disclosed.
+Only the diagnostic copy of a message is clipped.
+
+`observedProcessIds` is the first 64 **distinct actually read primitive PIDs**
+in source order, not a full lossless observed array. Raw observation count,
+distinct count, sample count, unavailable count, truncation and completeness
+are recorded separately. The expected PID is never substituted as an
+observation. Diagnostics do not query a fresh tree/window, retarget, adopt a
+foreign candidate, retry, or change selector/deadline/ownership decisions.
+
+The focused thirteen-case group uses synthetic candidates with the actual
+resolver and retained trace sink, plus the actual worker wait/deadline
+functions extracted by AST and a synthetic query leaf. It uses the real
+100 ms polling cadence and compiles/launches no target:
+
+```powershell
+pwsh -NoProfile -File Tools\windows\Tests\UiCaptureDriver.Tests.ps1 `
+  -SelectorRefusalContractOnly -ScratchRoot C:\owned\fresh-selector-contracts
+```
+
+The empty-bounds fixture is a **synthetic canonical Rect.Empty numeric shape**,
+not an instantiated WPF rectangle or live UIA evidence. Structural
+classification uses the four already-read primitive coordinates, without
+adding a WindowsBase dependency or changing assembly loading.
+
+All thirteen cases are also registered in the normal suite: exactly 85 ordinary
+or 88 real-seed cases, preserving all 75 real-seed case names from the merged
+journal base. The four timing
+subcases and journal success path are unchanged. This diagnostic evidence is
+not live UIA, graph-delivery, rendering, input, B-scene or parity evidence;
+the live refusal's root cause remains unclassified until separately admitted
+retained runtime evidence is available.