diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go
index 9d6caafe..f74619f1 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker-tools/main.go
@@ -422,8 +422,8 @@ func main() {
 		PreviewState: read(stdio.State("previews")), InputState: read(stdio.State(check.InputsStateName)),
 		StepStates: map[string]check.StateRead{"mesh-build-go": read(stdio.State("mesh-build-go.steps")), "mesh-build-node": read(stdio.State("mesh-build-node.steps"))},
 		HaveState:  read(stdio.State("node-engine.have")), StepBound: stepBound(),
-		TurnState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.turns")), HearingState: read(stdio.State(buildrun.HearingState)),
-		AskState: read(stdio.State(check.AsksState)), BuildState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-builder.builds"))}
+		HearingState: read(stdio.State(buildrun.HearingState)),
+		AskState:     read(stdio.State(check.AsksState)), BuildState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-builder.builds"))}
 	r.Runs = runsOf{ownerRead(stdio.Ask, indexerModulesTool)} // the node-engine at the commit the mesh runs, as the checker reads it
 	tries := stdio.State(check.TriesState)
 	trunks := func() (map[string]string, error) {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go
index 0ddb4046..19930604 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/integration_test.go
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/clients/meshdeliveryclient"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/gopackageregistry"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshcatalog"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdelivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdeliverychecker"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/builds"
@@ -608,7 +607,7 @@ func startBed(t *testing.T) *bed {
 		check.CheckerOwedBucket: 5, check.PreviewsBucket: 5, check.CandidatesBucket: 10,
 		check.ModulesBucket: 20, check.ManifestsBucket: 1,
 		check.PresenceBucket: 20, check.HaveBucket: 20, check.TriesBucket: 1,
-		check.TurnsBucket: 5, builds.BuilderBuildsBucket: 1, check.InputsBucket: 1} {
+		builds.BuilderBuildsBucket: 1, check.InputsBucket: 1} {
 		kv, err := js.CreateKeyValue(ctx, jetstream.KeyValueConfig{Bucket: name, History: uint8(history)})
 		if err != nil {
 			t.Fatal(err)
@@ -936,26 +935,8 @@ func TestACheckOrACarryOfEqualInputsRunsNothing(t *testing.T) { // 1287/AC5, 128
 		t.Errorf("%d kept keys, was %d", got, kept)
 	}
 
-	// §3: the gate's turn on the repository holds a new check off; its delete claims it.
-	at := time.Now().UTC()
-	turn, err := meshdeliveryclient.EncodeTurn(meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue{Repository: repo, Waiting: []meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem{{Group: "fix/other", Heads: "0123456789ab", Approved: at, Since: at}}})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	tk, _ := meshdeliveryclient.TurnsKey(repo)
-	turnRev, err := b.buckets[check.TurnsBucket].Put(b.ctx, tk, turn)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	b.said(t, fmt.Sprintf("merge turn %s changed (revision %d)", tk, turnRev)) // the checker heard the turn
+	// Design 47 G §278 (test 52): a new check is claimed at once, with no state of the gate granted to the checker.
 	third := b.candidate(t, "feat/z", pull(repo, 9, "3333333333333333333333333333333333333333"))
-	b.said(t, third+": not claimed: the approved merge of fix/other") // it held the check off
-	if _, err := b.buckets[check.CheckerVerdictsBucket].Get(b.ctx, third); !errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
-		t.Fatalf("verdicts.%s exists (%v) while a merge turn holds its repository", third, err)
-	}
-	if err := b.buckets[check.TurnsBucket].Delete(b.ctx, tk); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
 	b.verdict(t, third, ended)
 
 	// §5: the trunk moves; the first verdict is carried by its digests, nothing runs.
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/lazyturns.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/lazyturns.go
deleted file mode 100644
index b39611bc..00000000
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/lazyturns.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,50 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"sync"
-
-	"mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check"
-
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdelivery"
-)
-
-// lazyTurns is the gate's merge turns as the checker reads them (novox/hq ADR 0548 §3), opened when the gate's bucket is
-// there: before each claim it is opened again until it is, so a checker that started before the gate made the bucket holds
-// checks from the gate's first turn on, with no timer and no restart. Until then it holds nothing, and says so once, loudly,
-// and once again when it opens.
-type lazyTurns struct {
-	turns *check.Turns
-	open  func() error
-	logf  func(format string, args ...any)
-
-	mu     sync.Mutex
-	opened bool
-	said   bool
-}
-
-// ensure opens the bucket once it is there; a failure is said once.
-func (l *lazyTurns) ensure() {
-	l.mu.Lock()
-	defer l.mu.Unlock()
-	if l.opened || l.open == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	if err := l.open(); err != nil {
-		if !l.said {
-			l.said = true
-			l.logf("NO MERGE TURN HOLDS A CHECK: the gate's bucket %s cannot be read (%v); every check is claimed as if no approved merge waited, "+
-				"and the bucket is opened again before each claim until it is there", check.TurnsBucket, err)
-		}
-		return
-	}
-	l.opened = true
-	if l.said {
-		l.logf("the gate's merge turns are read from %s from now on: an approved merge's turn holds checks off its repositories again", check.TurnsBucket)
-	}
-}
-
-// Holding opens the bucket when it is not yet, then answers what the turns hold.
-func (l *lazyTurns) Holding(repositories []string, heads string) (string, meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem, bool) {
-	l.ensure()
-	return l.turns.Holding(repositories, heads)
-}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go
index 81433a09..d567a1df 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/cmd/mesh-delivery-checker/main.go
@@ -204,8 +204,6 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	tools := &buildrun.ToolchainSet{}
 	presence := &buildrun.PresenceSet{}
 	trunks := &check.Trunks{}
-	turns := &check.Turns{}
-	lazy := &lazyTurns{turns: turns, logf: logger.Printf}
 	// A check is one ask per pull request and build module on the build seats' check stream, pulled by a build node with a
 	// free slot (novox/hq ADR 0525 §1, §3): the checker chooses no node and starts no step.
 	asks := buildrun.JetStreamAsks{JS: js}
@@ -232,7 +230,6 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		Verdicts: kvStore{buckets[check.CheckerVerdictsBucket]},
 		Owed:     kvStore{buckets[check.CheckerOwedBucket]},
 		Trunks:   trunks,
-		Turns:    lazy,
 		Bound:    checkBound,
 		Link:     link,
 		Logf:     logger.Printf,
@@ -381,31 +378,6 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 		return fmt.Errorf("the checker cannot hear the catalog half's revisions: %w", err)
 	}
 	firstTrunks(ctx)
-	// The gate's merge turns (novox/hq ADR 0548 §3): no check is claimed of a repository an approved merge waits on, and the
-	// delete of its turn claims it. Read before the candidates, so no check starts past a turn written before this start.
-	// Where the gate's bucket is not there yet it is read as empty, and opened again before each claim until it is there
-	// (lazyTurns), so a gate delivered after the checker started holds checks from its first turn on.
-	lazy.open = func() error {
-		kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, check.TurnsBucket)
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		tw, err := settle(ctx, kv, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { turns.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
-		if err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
-		go func() {
-			errs <- follow(ctx, tw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
-				if turns.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) {
-					// Said, so a wait on a held check can be read (and a test waits on it rather than on a pause).
-					logger.Printf("the gate's merge turn %s changed (revision %d): the checks it holds are held or claimed from now on", e.Key(), e.Revision())
-					ch.Reconsider(ctx) // a turn went or changed: a check it held is claimed now
-				}
-			})
-		}()
-		return nil
-	}
-	lazy.ensure()
 	afterFirstViews := func() error {
 		// The modules say which repository holds a TypeScript module, so the Node build module judges it too.
 		pw, err := settle(ctx, packages, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) { published.Put(e.Key(), e.Value(), !opOf(e)) })
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/adr548_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/adr548_test.go
index d88c4f6b..2d236d4b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/adr548_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/adr548_test.go
@@ -7,9 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/clients/meshdeliverycheckerclient"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/clients/meshdeliveryclient"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshcatalog"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdelivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdeliverychecker"
 )
 
@@ -17,26 +15,6 @@ import (
 // a trunk or sibling move never ends a running check and carries its verdict once it ended (§1, §5, §6); only a head git
 // refused gets a whole check after a move (§7); the line of a carried verdict says so (§8).
 
-// turnOf is a turn's value on a repository for a delivery of the heads hash.
-func turnOf(t testing.TB, repo, group, heads string) []byte {
-	t.Helper()
-	at := time.Date(2026, 10, 26, 9, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
-	data, err := meshdeliveryclient.EncodeTurn(meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue{Repository: repo, Waiting: []meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem{{Group: group, Heads: heads, Approved: at, Since: at}}})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	return data
-}
-
-func turnKey(t testing.TB, repo string) string {
-	t.Helper()
-	k, err := meshdeliveryclient.TurnsKey(repo)
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	return k
-}
-
 // waitFor polls a condition the checker's goroutines make true, failing after ten seconds: a bound a loaded machine does
 // not reach, waited out only by a failing test.
 func waitFor(t testing.TB, what string, ok func() bool) {
@@ -59,66 +37,15 @@ func pullWithFP(repo string, number int, head string, d string) meshcatalog.Cand
 func TestOneCheckPerDelivery(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	for name, run := range map[string]func(t *testing.T){
-		// §3: no claim while a turn names one of its repositories; a claim on the turn's delete event.
-		"a turn on its repository holds a new check off until the turn goes": func(t *testing.T) {
+		// Design 47 G §278 (test 52): a new check is claimed at once; the checker reads no state of the gate, so no merge turn holds it.
+		"a new check is claimed at once": func(t *testing.T) {
 			j := passJudge()
 			r := newRig(t, j)
-			turns := &Turns{}
-			r.ch.Turns = turns
-			turns.Put(turnKey(t, repoA), turnOf(t, repoA, "fix/other", "0123456789ab"), false)
 			cand := candidateOf(t, "feat/x", pullOf(repoA, 7, head1))
 			r.ch.Candidate(ctx, "feat%2Fx", cand)
 			r.ch.Wait()
-			if j.count() != 0 || len(r.verdicts.vals) != 0 {
-				t.Fatalf("judged %d times with a turn on %s, verdicts %v", j.count(), repoA, r.verdicts.vals)
-			}
-			if held := r.ch.Held()[keyOf(t, "feat/x", cand)]; !strings.Contains(held, repoA) || !strings.Contains(held, "fix/other") {
-				t.Errorf("the hold is said as %q, want the turn's repository and group", held)
-			}
-			if !turns.Put(turnKey(t, repoA), nil, true) {
-				t.Fatal("the turn's delete changed nothing")
-			}
-			r.ch.Reconsider(ctx) // what the watch of turns does on the delete
-			r.ch.Wait()
 			if j.count() != 1 || r.verdict(t, keyOf(t, "feat/x", cand)).State != meshdeliverycheckerclient.VerdictPass {
-				t.Errorf("judged %d times after the turn went, want once", j.count())
-			}
-		},
-		"a turn on another repository, or of its own heads, holds nothing": func(t *testing.T) {
-			j := passJudge()
-			r := newRig(t, j)
-			turns := &Turns{}
-			r.ch.Turns = turns
-			cand := candidateOf(t, "feat/x", pullOf(repoA, 7, head1))
-			c, _ := meshcatalog.DecodeCandidatesByGroupValue(cand)
-			turns.Put(turnKey(t, repoSDK), turnOf(t, repoSDK, "fix/other", "0123456789ab"), false)
-			turns.Put(turnKey(t, repoA), turnOf(t, repoA, "feat/x", GateHeads(c)), false)
-			r.ch.Candidate(ctx, "feat%2Fx", cand)
-			r.ch.Wait()
-			if j.count() != 1 {
-				t.Errorf("judged %d times, want once: the turns hold another repository and its own merge", j.count())
-			}
-		},
-		// §3, the race: a check claimed before the gate's turn is judged on the commit it read, never restarted.
-		"a check claimed before a turn was written runs to its verdict": func(t *testing.T) {
-			release, started := make(chan struct{}), make(chan struct{})
-			j := &judgeFunc{f: func(context.Context, *Case, int) (Outcome, error) {
-				close(started)
-				<-release
-				return Outcome{Verdict: passing()}, nil
-			}}
-			r := newRig(t, j)
-			turns := &Turns{}
-			r.ch.Turns = turns
-			cand := candidateOf(t, "feat/x", pullOf(repoA, 7, head1))
-			r.ch.Candidate(ctx, "feat%2Fx", cand)
-			<-started
-			turns.Put(turnKey(t, repoA), turnOf(t, repoA, "fix/other", "0123456789ab"), false)
-			r.ch.Reconsider(ctx)
-			close(release)
-			r.ch.Wait()
-			if j.count() != 1 || r.verdict(t, keyOf(t, "feat/x", cand)).State != meshdeliverycheckerclient.VerdictPass {
-				t.Errorf("judged %d times; the running check is not ended by the turn", j.count())
+				t.Errorf("judged %d times, want once at once", j.count())
 			}
 		},
 		// §1, §5: a trunk move during a running check calls the judge once, writes its verdict, keeps the status pending (a pass
@@ -280,15 +207,7 @@ func TestOneCheckPerDelivery(t *testing.T) {
 			r.ch.Wait()
 			a, _ := meshcatalog.DecodeCandidatesByGroupValue(candA)
 			c, _ := meshcatalog.DecodeCandidatesByGroupValue(candC)
-			at := time.Date(2026, 10, 26, 9, 0, 0, 0, time.UTC)
-			turn, err := meshdeliveryclient.EncodeTurn(meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue{Repository: repoA, Waiting: []meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem{
-				{Group: "feat/a", Heads: GateHeads(a), Approved: at, Since: at}, {Group: "feat/c", Heads: GateHeads(c), Approved: at.Add(time.Minute), Since: at}}})
-			if err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			turns := &Turns{}
-			turns.Put(turnKey(t, repoA), turn, false)
-			r.ch.Turns = turns
+			_, _ = a, c
 			r.setTrunks(t, map[string]string{repoA: trunkA2, repoSDK: trunkS}) // a third merge moves the trunk under both
 			r.ch.TrunkMoved(ctx)
 			r.ch.Wait()
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/checker.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/checker.go
index 1e583732..b5c72ada 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/checker.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/checker.go
@@ -16,7 +16,6 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/clients/meshdeliverycheckerclient"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/clients/meshdeliveryclient"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshcatalog"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdelivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdeliverychecker"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/modules/mesh-delivery-builder/buildrun"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/sdk/buildstep"
@@ -86,11 +85,6 @@ type Checker struct {
 	// Runs says which commit the mesh runs of a module (the indexer's modules): the node-engine a verdict read beside at its
 	// running commit is out of date when that commit moves (ADR 0548 §6); nil reads every sibling at its trunk.
 	Runs interface{ CommitOf(module string) string }
-	// Turns are the gate's merge turns (ADR 0548 §3): no check is claimed of a repository a turn names, but the check of the
-	// waiting delivery's own heads; nil holds none.
-	Turns interface {
-		Holding(repositories []string, heads string) (string, meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem, bool)
-	}
 	// Bound is how long one check may run; none when 0 (DefaultBound).
 	Bound time.Duration
 	// Rebuilds hears the builder's build keys a failed verdict names (failedBuilds): once each is written done, the check of
@@ -120,7 +114,6 @@ type Checker struct {
 	tried     map[string]bool                               // by verdict key: looked at since this process started
 	epoch     uint64                                        // changes of the nodes seen since this process started
 	nodesFail map[string]uint64                             // by verdict key: the epoch a failure of the nodes was written at
-	held      map[string]string                             // by verdict key: the turn that holds its check off, as last said
 	live      map[string]liveCheck                          // by verdict key: the check running in this process, ended when its heads go
 	settling  map[string]*window                            // by candidates key: the window its heads settle in
 	rebuilt   map[string]bool                               // by verdict key: every failed build its verdict names is done again
@@ -184,7 +177,7 @@ func (s superseded) Unwrap() error { return buildrun.Withdrawn{Why: s.Error()} }
 func (ch *Checker) init() {
 	ch.once.Do(func() {
 		ch.known, ch.inflight, ch.again, ch.tried = map[string]meshcatalog.CandidatesByGroupValue{}, map[string]bool{}, map[string]bool{}, map[string]bool{}
-		ch.nodesFail, ch.held = map[string]uint64{}, map[string]string{}
+		ch.nodesFail = map[string]uint64{}
 		ch.live, ch.settling = map[string]liveCheck{}, map[string]*window{}
 		ch.rebuilt, ch.awaiting = map[string]bool{}, map[string]bool{}
 		ch.outsideSaid = map[string]bool{}
@@ -695,9 +688,6 @@ func (ch *Checker) claim(ctx context.Context, cs *Case, first bool, epoch uint64
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", cs.Key, err)
 	}
 	if !found {
-		if ch.heldByTurn(cs) {
-			return nil, nil
-		}
 		rev, err := ch.Verdicts.Create(ctx, cs.Key, data)
 		if errors.Is(err, ErrConflict) {
 			return nil, nil // another checker made it first
@@ -728,7 +718,7 @@ func (ch *Checker) claim(ctx context.Context, cs *Case, first bool, epoch uint64
 		ch.mu.Unlock()
 		retake = !ok || epoch > at
 	}
-	if !retake || ch.heldByTurn(cs) {
+	if !retake {
 		return nil, nil
 	}
 	rev, err = ch.Verdicts.Update(ctx, cs.Key, data, rev)
@@ -741,50 +731,6 @@ func (ch *Checker) claim(ctx context.Context, cs *Case, first bool, epoch uint64
 	return &claimed{rev}, nil
 }
 
-// heldByTurn says whether a merge turn holds the case's check off (ADR 0548 §3): an approved merge waits on one of the
-// repositories it merges heads into, and it is not the merge of the case's own heads. The check is claimed when the turn's
-// key goes (Reconsider on the turns watch). Said once per turn in the log. A check already claimed is never held: one
-// claimed in the moment before the gate wrote its turn is judged on the commit it read and carried once after.
-func (ch *Checker) heldByTurn(cs *Case) bool {
-	if ch.Turns == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	repos := make([]string, 0, len(cs.Trunk))
-	for r := range cs.Trunk {
-		repos = append(repos, r)
-	}
-	repo, w, held := ch.Turns.Holding(repos, cs.Heads)
-	why := ""
-	if held {
-		why = repo + " " + w.Group + " " + w.Heads
-	}
-	ch.mu.Lock()
-	said := ch.held[cs.Key]
-	if why == "" {
-		delete(ch.held, cs.Key)
-	} else {
-		ch.held[cs.Key] = why
-	}
-	ch.mu.Unlock()
-	if held && said != why {
-		ch.logf("%s: not claimed: the approved merge of %s (heads %s) holds a turn on %s, so its check waits for that merge (ADR 0548 §3)",
-			cs.Key, w.Group, w.Heads, repo)
-	}
-	return held
-}
-
-// Held is every check a merge turn holds off now, by verdict key, with the turn's repository, group and heads.
-func (ch *Checker) Held() map[string]string {
-	ch.init()
-	ch.mu.Lock()
-	defer ch.mu.Unlock()
-	out := make(map[string]string, len(ch.held))
-	for k, v := range ch.held {
-		out[k] = v
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
 // ConflictWords are what the words of a head that git would not merge onto its trunk say before the files in conflict.
 const ConflictWords = "does not merge into the trunk: files in conflict: "
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/names.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/names.go
index 76f76fea..44809d1b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/names.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/names.go
@@ -4,7 +4,6 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/go/seats/nodeengine"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/health-and-repair/go/seats/meshwatchdogs"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshcatalog"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdelivery"
 	checker "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdeliverychecker"
 )
 
@@ -21,8 +20,7 @@ const (
 
 	// GateModule holds the seat mesh-delivery's states source and turns, which the checker reads (reads: mesh-delivery-gate.source,
 	// mesh-delivery-gate.turns).
-	GateModule   = "mesh-delivery-gate"
-	TurnsBucket  = GateModule + "_" + meshdelivery.StateTurns
+	GateModule = "mesh-delivery-gate"
 
 	// IndexerModule holds the seat mesh-catalog's states, which the checker follows by their views (consumes:
 	// mesh-delivery-indexer.views.*).
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go
index 54ee1798..0c677b90 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read.go
@@ -51,8 +51,6 @@ type Reader struct {
 	StepBound    time.Duration        // how long the checker waits for one step; DefaultStepBound when 0
 	// Trunks are the trunk heads of every repository (the gate's source); nil names no re-judge after a trunk move.
 	Trunks func() (map[string]string, error)
-	// TurnState is the gate's merge turns (ADR 0548 §3); without it no check is named as held by a turn.
-	TurnState StateRead
 	// Runs says which commit the mesh runs of a module (the indexer's modules), as the checker's decision reads it: the
 	// node-engine a verdict names is compared at its running commit, not at the trunk's (ADR 0548 §6); nil knows none.
 	Runs interface{ CommitOf(module string) string }
@@ -411,9 +409,6 @@ type Status struct {
 	// Waiting are the candidates whose check waits, by kind (ADR 0536 §4): new (no verdict for its heads) and nodes (failed
 	// for the nodes, asked again when they change) start before trunk (judged on trunk heads that moved since).
 	Waiting map[string][]string `json:"waiting_by_kind"`
-	// HeldByTurn are the candidates whose check an approved merge's turn holds off (ADR 0548 §3), by group: the repository and
-	// the group of the merge that waits. Their check is claimed when that turn goes.
-	HeldByTurn map[string]string `json:"held_by_turn"`
 	// CannotBeJudged are the candidates no pull request of which can be judged, by group, with why: the gate's source.main
 	// names no trunk head of their repositories (issue 1422). They are judged once it does; until then their status is error.
 	CannotBeJudged map[string]string `json:"cannot_be_judged"`
@@ -451,42 +446,6 @@ func (r Reader) deadLetters() DeadLettersHeard {
 	return DeadLettersHeard{Heard: a.Healthy, Why: a.Why}
 }
 
-// turns reads the gate's merge turns, by repository; nil when they cannot be read, said in a note.
-func (r Reader) turns(st *Status) *Turns {
-	if r.TurnState.Keys == nil || r.TurnState.Get == nil {
-		st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "the gate's merge turns are not readable here, so no check is named as held by one")
-		return nil
-	}
-	keys, err := r.TurnState.Keys()
-	if err != nil {
-		st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "the gate's merge turns cannot be listed, so no check is named as held by one: "+err.Error())
-		return nil
-	}
-	t := &Turns{}
-	for _, k := range keys {
-		if raw, err := r.TurnState.Get(k); err == nil && len(raw) > 0 {
-			t.Put(k, raw, false)
-		}
-	}
-	return t
-}
-
-// heldBy says the turn that holds a candidate's check off, or "".
-func heldBy(t *Turns, c meshcatalog.CandidatesByGroupValue, heads map[string]string) string {
-	cs := CaseOf(c, heads)
-	if t == nil || cs == nil {
-		return ""
-	}
-	repos := make([]string, 0, len(cs.Trunk))
-	for r := range cs.Trunk {
-		repos = append(repos, r)
-	}
-	if repo, w, ok := t.Holding(repos, cs.Heads); ok {
-		return repo + ": the approved merge of " + w.Group + " waits on it"
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
 // Status reads the build modules' steps and the candidates against their verdicts.
 func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 	st := Status{RunningByNode: map[string]int{}, Lost: map[string]string{}}
@@ -503,8 +462,7 @@ func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 	}
 	st.Unjudged = []string{}
 	st.Waiting = map[string][]string{KindNew: {}, KindNodes: {}, KindTrunk: {}}
-	st.HeldByTurn, st.CannotBeJudged, st.Outside = map[string]string{}, map[string]string{}, map[string]string{}
-	turns := r.turns(&st)
+	st.CannotBeJudged, st.Outside = map[string]string{}, map[string]string{}
 	var heads map[string]string
 	if r.Trunks == nil {
 		st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "the trunk heads are not readable here, so no check is named as waiting for a trunk move")
@@ -571,9 +529,6 @@ func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 			if len(raw) == 0 {
 				st.Unjudged = append(st.Unjudged, c.Group)
 				st.Waiting[KindNew] = append(st.Waiting[KindNew], c.Group)
-				if why := heldBy(turns, c, heads); why != "" {
-					st.HeldByTurn[c.Group] = why
-				}
 				continue
 			}
 			v, err := meshdeliverycheckerclient.DecodeVerdict(raw)
@@ -597,9 +552,6 @@ func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 			case heads != nil:
 				if cs := CaseOf(c, heads); cs != nil && (!sameTrunk(v.Trunk, cs.Trunk) || besideMoved(v.Beside, besideAt(heads, r.Runs))) {
 					st.Waiting[KindTrunk] = append(st.Waiting[KindTrunk], c.Group)
-					if why := heldBy(turns, c, heads); why != "" {
-						st.HeldByTurn[c.Group] = why
-					}
 				}
 			}
 		}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go
index cf5d63a5..cad97946 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/read_test.go
@@ -316,18 +316,6 @@ func TestTheStatusCountsAnHQOnlyGroupAsUnjudged(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(st.Unjudged) != 1 || st.Unjudged[0] != "pb-x" {
 		t.Errorf("unjudged = %v, want pb-x", st.Unjudged)
 	}
-	// ADR 0548 §3: a candidate whose check an approved merge's turn holds off is named with the turn.
-	held := candidateOf(t, "feat/x", pullOf(repoA, 7, head1))
-	hkey, _ := meshcatalogclient.CandidatesKey("feat/x")
-	st, err = Reader{CandidateState: fakeState{hkey: held}.read(), VerdictState: fakeState{}.read(),
-		Trunks:    func() (map[string]string, error) { return map[string]string{repoA: trunkA}, nil },
-		TurnState: fakeState{turnKey(t, repoA): turnOf(t, repoA, "fix/other", "0123456789ab")}.read()}.Status()
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	if why := st.HeldByTurn["feat/x"]; !strings.Contains(why, repoA) || !strings.Contains(why, "fix/other") {
-		t.Errorf("held_by_turn = %v, want feat/x held by the merge of fix/other on %s", st.HeldByTurn, repoA)
-	}
 }
 
 // slowBucket wraps a state with a Get that takes delay and counts the values read, the lists and the most Gets in flight.
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/turns.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/turns.go
deleted file mode 100644
index cb8da5e0..00000000
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check/turns.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,79 +0,0 @@
-package check
-
-import (
-	"sort"
-	"strings"
-	"sync"
-
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/clients/meshdeliveryclient"
-	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshdelivery"
-)
-
-// Turns holds the gate's merge turns (novox/hq ADR 0548 §3), by repository, as a watch of the gate's turns bucket puts them
-// in: the checker claims no check of a repository a turn names, except the check of a waiting delivery's own heads, so an
-// approved merge goes before a check not yet started. A bucket not there is read as empty.
-type Turns struct {
-	mu     sync.Mutex
-	byRepo map[string]meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue
-}
-
-// Put takes a value of the turns bucket in, or its delete, and answers whether what the checker holds changed. A value that
-// is not a turn is dropped as a delete would be: a turn the checker cannot read holds nothing.
-func (t *Turns) Put(key string, value []byte, deleted bool) bool {
-	repository, err := meshdeliveryclient.ParseTurnsKey(key)
-	if err != nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	t.mu.Lock()
-	defer t.mu.Unlock()
-	if t.byRepo == nil {
-		t.byRepo = map[string]meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue{}
-	}
-	cur, had := t.byRepo[repository]
-	if !deleted {
-		if turn, err := meshdeliveryclient.DecodeTurn(value); err == nil {
-			t.byRepo[repository] = turn
-			return !had || !meshdeliveryclient.SameTurn(cur, turn)
-		}
-	}
-	delete(t.byRepo, repository)
-	return had
-}
-
-// Holding names the first of the repositories (by name) a turn holds off the check of the heads, and the delivery that
-// waits first in it; false when none does.
-func (t *Turns) Holding(repositories []string, heads string) (string, meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem, bool) {
-	if t == nil {
-		return "", meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem{}, false
-	}
-	sorted := make([]string, 0, len(repositories))
-	for _, r := range repositories {
-		sorted = append(sorted, strings.ToLower(r))
-	}
-	sort.Strings(sorted)
-	t.mu.Lock()
-	defer t.mu.Unlock()
-	for _, r := range sorted {
-		turn, ok := t.byRepo[r]
-		if !ok || !meshdeliveryclient.TurnHolds(turn, heads) {
-			continue
-		}
-		for _, w := range turn.Waiting {
-			if w.Heads != heads {
-				return r, w, true
-			}
-		}
-	}
-	return "", meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValueWaitingItem{}, false
-}
-
-// All is every turn held now, by repository (a copy).
-func (t *Turns) All() map[string]meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue {
-	t.mu.Lock()
-	defer t.mu.Unlock()
-	out := make(map[string]meshdelivery.TurnsByRepositoryValue, len(t.byRepo))
-	for r, turn := range t.byRepo {
-		out[r] = turn
-	}
-	return out
-}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go
index a3978a5e..29506cab 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/manifest_test.go
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1678/AC1
 		t.Errorf("state = %+v, want %+v", m.State, want)
 	}
 	if want := []string{"mesh-build-go.steps", "mesh-build-go.toolchains", "mesh-build-node.steps", "mesh-build-node.toolchains",
-		"mesh-delivery-builder.builds", "mesh-delivery-gate.turns", "mesh-delivery-watchman.presence", "node-engine.have"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(sorted(m.Reads), want) {
+		"mesh-delivery-builder.builds", "mesh-delivery-watchman.presence", "node-engine.have"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(sorted(m.Reads), want) {
 		t.Errorf("reads = %v, want %v", m.Reads, want)
 	}
 	// DLV-M2 (ADR 0615 §1, ADR 0596): the indexer's candidates, modules, manifests, packages and predefined keys and the
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1678/AC1
 	}
 	// D-11 (ADR 0634 §1): the holders and buckets internal/check names, no contract naming a holder, are the manifest's: a state
 	// the checker reads is a `reads` (<module>.<state>) and a state of the indexer it follows a `consumes` of its views family.
-	for bucket, read := range map[string]string{check.TurnsBucket: "mesh-delivery-gate.turns",
+	for bucket, read := range map[string]string{
 		check.PresenceBucket: "mesh-delivery-watchman.presence", check.HaveBucket: "node-engine.have"} {
 		if strings.Replace(bucket, "_", ".", 1) != read || !slices.Contains(m.Reads, read) {
 			t.Errorf("the bucket %s is not the declared read %s", bucket, read)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json
index 261ab3e9..02b78a1e 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-checker/module.json
@@ -53,7 +53,6 @@
     "mesh-build-node.steps",
     "mesh-build-node.toolchains",
     "mesh-delivery-builder.builds",
-    "mesh-delivery-gate.turns",
     "mesh-delivery-watchman.presence",
     "node-engine.have"
   ],