Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee

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The Arbitration Committee exists to impose binding solutions to Wikipedia disputes. This solution may be anything up to and including a ban from editing Wikipedia for a period of time.

The Arbitration Committee is the last step in the dispute resolution process — it is a last resort to be turned to when all else has failed. Other steps, including discussion between users and, where appropriate, mediation, should be tried first. The Arbitration Committee exists to deal with only the most serious disputes and cases of rule-breaking.

Dispute resolution
Negotiation
Requests for comment
Third opinion
Mediation
Mediation Committee
Requests for mediation
Arbitration
Arbitration Committee
Requests for arbitration
Probation
Article probation
Mentorship
Member groups
Members' Advocates
Mediation Cabal
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Until the beginning of 2004, Jimbo Wales, the previous head of the Wikimedia Foundation, which governs Wikipedia, dealt with all serious disputes and was the only person with the authority to ban users who were not engaging in simple vandalism (straightforward vandals could be blocked by any administrator). This role has now largely been passed to the Arbitration Committee. Jimbo wrote:

"The Arbitration Committee [...] can impose a solution that I'll consider to be binding, with of course the exception that I reserve the right of executive clemency and indeed even to dissolve the whole thing if it turns out to be a disaster. But I regard that as unlikely, and I plan to do it about as often as the Queen of England dissolves Parliament against their wishes, i.e., basically never, but it is one last safety valve for our values." – January 2004

Contents

[edit] Members

The number of active Committee members affects the number of Arbitrators needed to reach a ruling. For example, if seven Arbitrators are active, then four votes are needed to reach a majority decision. If ten are active, then six votes are needed, etc. If an even number of members are active and there is a tie, then we will ask Jimbo Wales to give the tie-breaking vote; this situation has yet to happen, however.

By choice, we don't have a Chair.

AC status 
Active - has participated in an AC case in the last two weeks;
Away - on a temporary absence;
Inactive - has not participated in an AC case in the last two weeks.

[edit] Active

As of December 8, 2006

[edit] Away

Recovering from illness

[edit] Inactive

[edit] Selection process

The original Arbitration Committee was appointed by Jimbo Wales, primarily chosen from people who volunteered to help with the mediation and arbitration processes. Arbitrators are chosen for appointment having been suggested through advisory elections; for temporary appointments to replace resignations, they are chosen after direct advice.

Arbitrators serve three-year terms on a rotating schedule, such that a "tranche" of five positions is up for re-appointment each year. In case of early departures, new Arbitrators are appointed to the partially-served, now empty, terms.

It should be noted that while appointments are generally to specified terms, all Arbitrators serve at Jimbo's discretion, and are not automatically removed at the expiration of those terms, but only by the appointment of a replacement or otherwise by Jimbo's will.

[edit] Former members

[edit] Member history