Table 27: Twelfth Judicial District Judges and Magistrates
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Name of Judge
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Telephone
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Case Links
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Comments
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District Judges
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Kimberly Cortez-Rodriguez
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719-589-4996
kimberly.cortez-rodriguez@judicial.state.co.us
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Promoted district court judge by Gov. Polis April 7, 2022.
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Stepped up to bench on Judge Susan Broyles' stepping down on January 10, 2017. Prior to that she was the Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator for 12
th
Judicial District.
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Stood for retention as county judge in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Martin A. Gonzales
Rio Grande Combined Court
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Retired April 1, 2022.
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Appointed district court judge August 2007.
Formerly a magistrate.
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Stood for retention in 2010.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention again in 2016.
EJF recommendation: Retain 94%
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2011CV9
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On 8/11/11 ruled, in favor of democracy, that Sec. of State Gessler is authorized to perform a hand count of the votes cast in controversial Nov. 2, 2010 Saguache County election.
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Michael A. Gonzales
former Chief Judge
Water Judge
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719-589-4996
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Resigned as chief judge July 14, 2023.
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Promoted to chief judge October 2019.
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Promoted from county to district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2011.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 94% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014. 81% Retain
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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100% of attorneys voted to Retain.
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Patrick H. Hayes, Jr.
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Died May 29, 2018
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Promoted district court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in June 2015.
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Appointed county court judge in 2011. Formerly a magistrate, deputy and chief deputy DA.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: Retain 87%
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Amanda C. Hopkins
Chief Judge
Alamosa County
Conejos County
Costilla County
Mineral County
Rio Grande County
Saguache County
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719-657-3394
amanda.hopkins@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed chief judge April 14, 2023.
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Appointed appointed District Court Judge by Gov. Hickenlooper July 10, 2018. Prior to that she was a public defender in the San Luis Valley.
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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89% of attorneys voted to Retain while 11% voted Do Not Retain.
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O. John Kuenhold
former chief judge
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Retired June 2011.
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Appointed district court judge in Feb. 1981.
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Stood for retention in 2002. 97% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2008. 87% Retain.
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Crista Newmyer-Olsen
Division D
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719-589-4996
crista.newmyer-olsen@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed district court judge by Gov. Polis November 1, 2019, effective January 15, 2020. Previously she was the 12
th
Judicial District Attorney.
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Stood for retention in 2022.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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92% of attorneys voted to Retain with just 4% in dissension.
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Pattie P. Swift
former Chief Judge
Alamosa County
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Retired January 15, 2020.
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Promoted to district judge from county judge in September 2002.
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Stood for retention as county judge in 1992.
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Stood for retention as county judge in 1996.
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Stood for retention as county judge in 2000. 90% Retain.
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Stood for retention as district judge in 2006. 90% Retain
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation:
Marginal
83% Retain 17% Do Not Retain
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Stood for retention in 2018.
100% Retain.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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Top
County Judges
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Ruth M. Acheson
Mineral County
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Retired or stepped down May 1, 2024.
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2012. She replaced Frank Lentz.
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Stood for retention in 2016. 80% Retain.
EJF recommendation: Marginal
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
Retain 100%
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Gordon J. Bosa
Conejos County
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No longer on bench
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Susan Broyles
Conejos County
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Did not stand for retention and stepped down in January 2017.
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in October 2013. Replaced Judge Garcia.
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Kimberly Cortez-Rodriguez
Conejos County
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Promoted to district court judge by Gov. Polis April 7, 2022.
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2016. Stepped up to bench on Judge Susan Broyles' stepping down on January 10, 2017. Prior to that she was the Self-Represented Litigant Coordinator for 12
th
Judicial District.
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Stood for retention in 2020.
EJF recommendation:
100% Retain
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Mary Elizabeth Garcia
Conejos County
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No longer on bench as of September 2014.
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Appointed county court judge September 2007.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 80% Retain.
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Michael A. Gonzales
Alamosa County
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Promoted to district judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in September 2011.
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Appointed county court judge in Sept. 2007.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 94% Retain.
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Patrick H. Hayes, Jr.
Rio Grande County
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Promoted to district court judge in June 2015. Died May 29, 2018.
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Appointed county court judge in 2011. Formerly a magistrate, deputy and chief deputy DA.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation: Retain 87%
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Jason T. Kelly
Alamosa County
Conejos County
Costilla County
Mineral County
Rio Grande County
Saguache County
Magistrate
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719-376-5465
719-589-4996
jason.kelly@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed county judge by Gov. Polis on April 14, 2022. Previously Conejos County Attorney.
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Stood for retention in 2024.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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100% of attorneys voted to Retain.
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Frank Stannard Lentz
Mineral County
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Did not stand for retention in 2012.
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Appointed county court judge in 2004 and robed January 11.2005.
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Stood for retention in 2008.
100% Retain.
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Amanda K. Pearson
Saguache County
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Did not stand for retention and retired November 2016.
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Appointed to bench March 1998
Stood for retention in 2000:
100% Retain
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Stood for retention in 2004: Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2008: Retain
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Stood for retention in 2012.
EJF recommendation: 86% Retain
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Craig Schuenemann
Saguache County
Graduate of U.S. Naval Academy
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719-655-2522
craig.schuenemann@judicial.state.co.us
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Took the bench on January 11, 2022, after being appointed county judge by Gov. Polis. He was in private practice prior to his appointment.
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Stood for retention in 2024.
EJF evaluation: Marginal
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Just 75% of attorneys voted to Retain but no attorneys voted Do Not Retain.
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John W. Stenger
Rio Grande County
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719-657-3394
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis on May 3, 2022. Previously in private practice dealing with children issues.
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Stood for retention in 2024.
EJF recommendation:
Retain
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100% of attorneys voted to Retain.
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Tamara M. Sullivan
Costilla County
Domestic relations magistrate
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719-672-3681
719-589-4996
tamara.sullivan@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis effective January 10, 2023. Previously she was Managing Attorney for the Alamosa Colorado Legal Services Office.
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Pattie P. Swift
Costilla County
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Promoted to district judge September 2002 and to chief judge in October 2011. Retired January 15, 2020.
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Appointed county court judge in 1989.
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Stood for retention in 1992.
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Stood for retention in 1996.
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Stood for retention in 2000. 90% Retain.
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Michael H. Trujillo
Rio Grande County
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No longer on bench as of September 2012.
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Anna Ulrich
Saguache County
Reported to lack knowledge of criminal law.
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Resigned November 1, 2021.
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2016. Previously she was in private practice.
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Stood for retention in 2018.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
A pathetic 67% of attorneys voted Retain while a full 33% voted Do Not Retain.
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Daniel A. Walzl
Alamosa County
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719-589-4996
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in November 2011. Prior to that he was a public defender.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
69% Retain, 14% Do Not Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: 80% Marginal
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Stood for retention in 2022.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Only 69% of attorneys voted to Retain and the remaining 31% voted Do Not Retain. Duplicates his results in 2014.
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Robert Wardell
Mineral County
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No longer on bench as of February 2007.
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Hollie G. Wheelwright
Mineral County
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719-658-2575
hollie.wheelwright@judicial.state.co.us
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Polis effective May 1, 2024. Previously she was Clerk of Court for Rio Grande and Mineral Counties and graduated from Center High School in 1982.
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Kimberly Lynn Wood
Costilla County
Domestic relations magistrate.
Her performance has greatly deteriorated since her first review in 2006.
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719-672-3681
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Did not stand for retention in 2022. Term ended January 10, 2023.
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Appointed county court judge January 2003.
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Stood for retention in 2006.
100% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2010. 88% Retain.
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Stood for retention in 2014.
52% Retain.
EJF recommendation:
Do Not Retain
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Stood for retention again in 2018.
EJF recommendation: 71% Sub-Marginal
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Barbara A. Zollars
Rio Grande County
Reported to lack patience for individuals appearing before her.
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719-657-3394
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Appointed county court judge by Gov. Hickenlooper in August 2015.
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Stood for retention in 2018.
EJF recommendation: Retain
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88% of attorneys voted to Retain and only 6% voted Do Not Retain.
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Top
Magistrate
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Patrick H. Hayes, Jr.
Rio Grande County
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Promoted to county judge in 2011 and then to district court judge in June 2015. Died May 29, 2018.
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Jason T. Kelly
Advisement Magistrate
County Court judge as well.
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719-376-5465
jason.kelly@judicial.state.co.us
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Tamara Sullivan
Domestic Relations
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719-589-4996
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Kimberly L. Wood
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No longer on the bench as of September 2024.
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