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{{Short description|Panel of editors who conduct Misplaced Pages's arbitration process}}
:''WP:AC redirects here. You may be looking for ] (]).''
<noinclude>{{pp-semi-indef}}{{pp-move-indef}}</noinclude>
{{dispute-resolution}}
{{hatnote|''' For current arbitration proceedings, see ] or ]. For archived arbitration proceedings, see ].'''}}
{{shortcut|WP:AC|WP:ARBCOM}}
The '''Arbitration Committee''' is a panel of experienced users that exists to impose binding solutions to Misplaced Pages disputes that neither communal discussion, ], nor ] have been able to resolve, and to consider certain cases where exceptional factors such as privacy preclude a public hearing.


{{redirect|WP:AC|the account creator policy|Misplaced Pages:Account creator |the encyclopedia article|Arbitration Committee (Misplaced Pages)|information on autoconfirmed users|Misplaced Pages:Autoconfirmed|authority control|Misplaced Pages:Authority control|the revision deletion criterion|Misplaced Pages:Revision deletion#AC}}
] is the last step in the ] process–it is a '''last resort''', only to be employed when all else has failed. Try other steps first, including discussion between disputants and, where appropriate, ]. The Arbitration Committee only deals with the most serious disputes and cases of rule-breaking.


{{ ombox
Until the beginning of 2004, ] dealt with all serious disputes other than simple ] (straightforward vandals could be blocked by any ]). He was also the only person with the authority to ban users. His role in dispute handling has now largely been ] to the Arbitration Committee. Wales wrote in :
| type = notice
<blockquote>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 ] 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 ] Parliament against their wishes, ''i.e.'', basically never, but it is one last safety valve for our values.</blockquote>
| image = none
| imageright = {{shortcut|WP:AC|WP:ARB|WP:ARBCOM}}
| text = {{Arb-logo}}
}}
{{ombox|style=background: var(--background-color-warning-subtle, #fef6e7); border: 1px solid var(--border-color-destructive--active, #b32424); color: inherit;|textstyle=text-align: center;|image=none|text=Any private material intended for the Committee's attention should be sent through ].


Please see the ] statement below.
In , Wales confirmed that the committee could overturn any decision he makes in his traditional capacity within Misplaced Pages. To request that a dispute be Arbitrated, see ]. The ] details the rules and procedures involved. The ] provides a guide to the Requests for arbitration process. ] provides an index to all previous Committee decisions.
}}
{| style="text-align: center; background: #ffeeee; border: 1px solid #999999; padding: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em; font-size: 10pt;" align="center"
{{ArbCom navigation}}
| Any private material intended for the Committee's attention should be sent to<br>"{{NonSpamEmail|arbcom-l|lists.wikimedia.org}}" (]).
|}<div style="float: right; margin: 6px;">__TOC__</div>


The '''Arbitration Committee''' is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the ]. It has the authority to impose ] to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. The ] describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.
==<span id="Members">Current members</span>==
The number of active Committee members affects the number of Arbitrators needed to reach a ruling. For example, if seven Arbitrators are active on a given case, then four votes are needed to reach a majority decision. If ten are active, then six votes are needed, etc. (In general, if an even number of members vote on a proposal and there is a tie vote, the proposal is not adopted. In this circumstance, the Arbitrators may ask ] to cast a tie-breaking vote, but this has yet to occur.)


In addition to its role in dispute resolution, the Committee ] which editors have access to ] and ] permissions, and considers certain matters where exceptional factors such as ] preclude a public hearing.
The Arbitration Committee does not have a ]. At certain times, Arbitrators may be temporarily unavailable for duty; the current status of the members is detailed in the list below. Arbitrators will either be <span style="color:green">Active</span>, or <span style="color:red">Inactive</span>—this includes members who are away on ], who have not participated in arbitration in the last two weeks, or who have posted a statement noting their absence.


Arbitrators are volunteer users—usually experienced editors and ]—whom the community of editors at large ] to resolve the most complex or intractable disputes that may arise within the community, and to oversee the few areas where access to non-public information is a prerequisite.
''List hopefully accurate as of 14 July 2008:''
{{dispute-resolution}}
;<big><span id="Active" style="color:green">Active Arbitrators</span></big>
#{{User4|Blnguyen}} {{/Members}}
#{{User4|Charles Matthews}} ({{NonSpamEmail|charles.r.matthews|ntlworld.com}})
#{{user4|FayssalF}} (Fayssal Fertakh, {{NonSpamEmail|szvest|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|FloNight}}
#{{user4|FT2}} (public inbox: {{NonSpamEmail|ft2wikipedia.inbox|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|Jdforrester}} (James Forrester aka "James F.", {{NonSpamEmail|jdforrester|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|Jpgordon}} (Josh Gordon, {{NonSpamEmail|user.jpgordon|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|Kirill Lokshin}} ({{NonSpamEmail|kirill.lokshin|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|Morven}} (M&#97;tthew Brown, {{NonSpamEmail|morven|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|Paul August}}
#{{User4|Sam Blacketer}} ({{NonSpamEmail|s&#97;m.bl&#97;cketer|gmail.com}})
#{{User4|Thebainer}} (Stephen Bain, {{NonSpamEmail|stephen.bain|gmail.com}})
#{{user4|Deskana}} ({{NonSpamEmail|djgwiki|googlem&#97;il.&#099;om}}) (])


==Clerks==
;<big><span style="color:red" id="Inactive">Inactive Arbitrators</span></big>
The ] assists the Committee with procedural tasks, such as opening and closing cases, maintaining arbitration pages, and issuing notifications of decisions. Parties with questions about the arbitration process are encouraged to consult a clerk for assistance.
#{{User4|UninvitedCompany}} (Steve Dunlop, {{NonSpamEmail|uninvited|nerstr&#97;nd.net}})


==Contacting the Committee==
==History==
<span id="arbcom-en"></span>
The ''arbcom-en'' mailing list is the primary venue for internal Arbitration Committee discussion on all matters under the Committee's remit. It can also be used by any user as a means of contacting the Committee privately (but see ] below). The mailing list address is '''''{{NonSpamEmail|arbcom-en|wikimedia.org}}'''''. It may also be reached through the "Email this user" feature at "]". All ] are subscribed to this list.


===Selection process=== ===Mailing lists===
<span id="LISTS">{{shortcut|WP:ARBCOM#LISTS}}</span>
The original Arbitration Committee was appointed in 2004 by ], primarily chosen from people who volunteered to help with the mediation and Arbitration processes. Since then, Arbitrators have been appointed based on the results of advisory elections held annually. Jimbo does not consider himself bound by the results of the elections, but generally has appointed Arbitrators from among the candidates with the highest percentage of positive votes (Jimmy has stated he will not appoint someone having under 50% support). On occasion, users with past experience have been appointed for continuity. Several vacancies due to mid-term resignations have been filled by direct appointment.


In addition to the ''arbcom-en'' list, the Committee operates several other ]:
Arbitrators serve three-year terms on a rotating schedule, such that a "tranche" of five positions is up for reappointment each year. In case of early departures, new Arbitrators are appointed for the balance of the unexpired terms.


{| class="wikitable"
{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid silver; margin-top: 0.2em;"
! scope="col" | Mailing list
! scope="col" | Description
|- |-
! scope="row" style="padding: 0.5em;" | {{nowrap|'']''}}
! style="background-color: none; font-weight:normal;" |
| style="padding: 0.5em;" | The ''functionaries-en'' mailing list is used for general discussion among current Arbitration Committee members, former members in good standing, advanced permission (CheckUser and/or Oversight) operators, and other editors with official Wikimedia Foundation status. Please see ] for more details and a list of subscribers.
'''Click to display a chart of Arbitration Committee members since January 2007; see ] for the complete list.'''
|- |-
! scope="row" style="padding: 0.5em;" | {{nowrap|'']''}}
| style="border: solid 1px silver; padding: 8px; background-color: clear;" |
| style="padding: 0.5em;" | The ''clerks-l'' mailing list is used for coordination by the ]. Please see ] for more details and a list of subscribers.
<center>{{ArbitrationCommitteeChartRecent}}</center>
|}

There have been five elections to date: ] (this election was only to fill two vacancies), ], ], ], and ]. The next election is scheduled to take place in December 2008.

===Former members===
{{div col|cols=2}}
*], aka ''Jwrosenzweig'' (did not seek re-election, December 2004)
*] (unsuccessful in election bid, December 2004)
*] (resigned 2004)
*], aka ''MyRedDice'' (resigned, December 2004)
*], aka ''Camembert'' (resigned, December 2004)
*], aka ''Delirium'' (resigned, July 2005)
*], aka ''Grunt'' (resigned, July 2005)
*], aka ''Ambi'' (resigned, July 2005)
*], aka ''Maveric149'' (resigned, September 2005)
*], aka ''Nohat'' (resigned, September 2005)
*] (resigned, November 2005)
*] (resigned, January 2006)
*] (did not seek re-election, January 2006)
*] (unsuccessful in election bid, January 2006)
*], aka ''Mindspillage'' (resigned, December 2006)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
*], aka ''The Epopt'' (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2006)
*] (on indefinite leave, December 2006)
*] (resigned, February 2007)
*] (resigned, March 2007)
*] (on indefinite leave, May 2007)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2007)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2007)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2007)
*] (unsuccessful in re-election bid, December 2007)
*] (did not seek re-election, December 2007)
*] (resigned, April 2008)
{{div col end}}

=== Full history ===
{| class="navbox collapsible collapsed" style="text-align: center; border: 1px solid silver; margin-top: 0.2em;"
|- |-
! scope="row" style="padding: 0.5em;" | {{nowrap|''arbcom-en-b''}} and {{nowrap|''arbcom-en-c''}}
! style="background-color: none; font-weight:normal;" |
| style="padding: 0.5em;" | The ''arbcom-en-b'' and ''arbcom-en-c'' mailing lists are secondary mailing lists used instead of arbcom-en "solely for discussions involving (i) the conduct of an arbcom-en subscriber or (ii) cases, broadly defined, to which an arbcom-en subscriber is a party" per ]. They are also used for CheckUser and Oversight applications, and may be used when one or more arbitrators recuse on a case. All arbitrators potentially have access to the archives of these mailing lists upon conclusion of the incident that either list was used for.
'''Click to display a chart of the Arbitration Committee composition since its inception in 2004.'''
|-
| style="border: solid 1px silver; padding: 8px; background-color: clear;" |
<center>{{ArbitrationCommitteeChart}}</center>
|} |}


===What happens to incoming ArbCom email?===
==Mailing list==
{{also|Misplaced Pages:Arbitration Committee/Procedures#Incoming mail}}
The Wikimedia Foundation maintains a private mailing list for Arbitration Committee business, known as "Arbcom-l". Private discussion on matters under the Committee's remit will take place on this list. The subscribers to the mailing list, as of ] ], are:


The committee is not necessarily the most appropriate body for every matter we are contacted about. Therefore, emails are shared with other trusted permissions holders on Misplaced Pages when, in an arbitrator's judgement, they cannot or must not be handled by the committee alone.
*'''Present members (including members on leave):''' ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ];
*'''Past members:''' ], ], ], ] aka ''Mindspillage'', ], ] aka ''The Epopt'', ], ], ], ], ];
*'''Other:''' ].


* '''Spam:''' Almost all incoming email is spam that is deleted at moderation. Please include an informative subject line to avoid deletion. Messages are normally acknowledged by an arbitrator within 48 hours.
The standing convention of the Committee is to allow former Arbitrators in good standing to remain on the list indefinitely. The interface page for the Mailing List is located ]. Although the mailing list is private, editors who are not subscribed may still post to the list, where their email will receive the attention of, and be discussed by, the current subscribers. To do so, compose your email to {{NonSpamEmail|arbcom-l|lists.wikimedia.org}}; please use a descriptive subject line. Your email will not be visible to any but the subscribers in the above list.
* ''']:''' Reports should be made to WMF Legal. {{nospam|legal-reports|wikimedia.org}}.
* '''Content change requests:''' Referred to ], either by forwarding or by an arbitrator writing back to recommend you send to there.
* '''Suppression requests:''' Normally forwarded to the ], unless immediately actioned by an arbitrator.
* '''Requests for ]:''' Normally referred either to the ] or to an individual checkuser.
* '''Legal matters outside ArbCom's scope:''' Referred to the ].
* ''']:''' Referred to the ], {{nospam|emergency|wikimedia.org}}.
* '''Appeals of ] or ] directly related to ArbCom decisions or ]:''' Discussed and decided by the full committee.
* '''Requests about ] or ] blocks or bans:''' Appeals reviewed by the committee or forwarded to the ].
* '''Requests to review actions of checkusers or oversighters:''' Discussed and decided by the full committee.
* '''Emails about currently open arbitration cases:''' Handled according to the ] policy.
* '''Emails relating to closed cases:''' Normally referred to ] unless private or non-public personal information is involved.
* '''Other:''' Handled on a case-by-case basis, according to applicable policy and convention.


===Communications and privacy===
==Other roles==
<section begin="Communications and privacy" />
In addition to its rôle in the ] process, the Arbitration Committee also selects which editors have access to the ] and ] permissions, pursuant to the ] and ] policies. Editors who wish to have access to these permissions should contact the Committee directly, via their ], after reviewing the relevant description pages (see: ] and ]) in their entirety.
Arbitrators usually seek to treat communications with the committee, including emails, as confidential. That said, we cannot guarantee against public disclosure for a number of reasons, including potential security limitations. Accordingly, you should not disclose sensitive personal information in your communications with us.

==Clerks==


Once received, your communications may be shared with committee members and – in some limited cases – with third parties as deemed appropriate. Your communications may be archived indefinitely and made available to future members of the committee.
The Arbitration Committee Clerks assist the Arbitration Committee in procedural aspects of its work, such as opening and closing case pages, maintenance of ], and issuing notifications of decisions. Parties with procedural questions about the arbitration process may consult a Clerk for assistance. For further information on the Clerks and their functions, please see ].
]
]
]


Your email address may contain personal information that could reveal your real-life identity. Many people create email accounts specifically for Misplaced Pages use. Further information about safeguarding your privacy may be found at ] and ].
]
<section end="Communications and privacy" />
]
{{Misplaced Pages accounts|collapsed}}
]
] ]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
]
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]
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]
]

Latest revision as of 18:58, 30 October 2024

Panel of editors who conduct Misplaced Pages's arbitration process

For current arbitration proceedings, see Requests or Open Tasks. For archived arbitration proceedings, see Arbitration/Index. "WP:AC" redirects here. For the account creator policy, see Misplaced Pages:Account creator. For the encyclopedia article, see Arbitration Committee (Misplaced Pages). For information on autoconfirmed users, see Misplaced Pages:Autoconfirmed. For authority control, see Misplaced Pages:Authority control. For the revision deletion criterion, see Misplaced Pages:Revision deletion § AC.
Weighing scales Arbitration​Committee Shortcuts
Any private material intended for the Committee's attention should be sent through the main contact page. Please see the Communications and privacy statement below.
Misplaced Pages Arbitration
Open proceedings
Active sanctions
Arbitration Committee
Audit
Track related changes

The Arbitration Committee is the panel of editors responsible for conducting the Misplaced Pages arbitration process. It has the authority to impose binding solutions to disputes between editors, primarily for serious conduct disputes the community has been unable to resolve. The arbitration policy describes the Committee's roles and responsibilities in greater detail.

In addition to its role in dispute resolution, the Committee determines which editors have access to CheckUser and Oversight permissions, and considers certain matters where exceptional factors such as privacy preclude a public hearing.

Arbitrators are volunteer users—usually experienced editors and administrators—whom the community of editors at large elects to resolve the most complex or intractable disputes that may arise within the community, and to oversee the few areas where access to non-public information is a prerequisite.

Dispute resolution
(Requests)
Tips
Content disputes
Conduct disputes

Members

See also: Misplaced Pages:Arbitration Committee/History § Current and former members

These editors are the elected members of the Arbitration Committee (known as arbitrators). Votes of the committee are taken among the active members. Members are marked active or inactive so that the majority for new votes can be calculated. Members on wikibreak, not participating in arbitration within the past week, or indicating they will be absent are marked inactive.

Members moving back to active may remain inactive on some or all existing business. If you wish to know whether an arbitrator is active on a particular matter, please ask on their talk page (or check the proposed decision talk page, for cases). The list below is used to determine whether each arbitrator is active by default. Arbitrators who go on to participate in a vote will be counted as active for it even if they are listed as inactive below.

The following list is accurate as of 15 December 2024:

Active

  1. Aoidh (talk · contribs)
  2. Cabayi (talk · contribs)
  3. CaptainEek (talk · contribs)
  4. Guerillero (talk · contribs)
  5. HJ Mitchell (talk · contribs)
  6. Moneytrees (talk · contribs)
  7. Primefac (talk · contribs)
  8. Sdrqaz (talk · contribs)
  9. ToBeFree (talk · contribs)
  10. Z1720 (talk · contribs)

Inactive

  1. Firefly (talk · contribs)
  2. L235 (talk · contribs)

Arbitrators-elect (taking office 1 January 2025)

  1. Daniel (talk · contribs)
  2. Elli (talk · contribs)
  3. KrakatoaKatie (talk · contribs)
  4. Liz (talk · contribs)
  5. ScottishFinnishRadish (talk · contribs)
  6. Theleekycauldron (talk · contribs)
  7. Worm That Turned (talk · contribs)

Clerks

The Committee's clerk team assists the Committee with procedural tasks, such as opening and closing cases, maintaining arbitration pages, and issuing notifications of decisions. Parties with questions about the arbitration process are encouraged to consult a clerk for assistance.

Contacting the Committee

The arbcom-en mailing list is the primary venue for internal Arbitration Committee discussion on all matters under the Committee's remit. It can also be used by any user as a means of contacting the Committee privately (but see Communications and privacy below). The mailing list address is arbcom-en@wikimedia.org. It may also be reached through the "Email this user" feature at "User:Arbitration Committee". All current arbitrators are subscribed to this list.

Mailing lists

Shortcut

In addition to the arbcom-en list, the Committee operates several other official mailing lists:

Mailing list Description
functionaries-en The functionaries-en mailing list is used for general discussion among current Arbitration Committee members, former members in good standing, advanced permission (CheckUser and/or Oversight) operators, and other editors with official Wikimedia Foundation status. Please see the functionary page for more details and a list of subscribers.
clerks-l The clerks-l mailing list is used for coordination by the Committee's clerk team. Please see the clerk page for more details and a list of subscribers.
arbcom-en-b and arbcom-en-c The arbcom-en-b and arbcom-en-c mailing lists are secondary mailing lists used instead of arbcom-en "solely for discussions involving (i) the conduct of an arbcom-en subscriber or (ii) cases, broadly defined, to which an arbcom-en subscriber is a party" per Misplaced Pages:Arbitration Committee/Noticeboard/Archive 5#Motion to establish secondary ArbCom mailing list. They are also used for CheckUser and Oversight applications, and may be used when one or more arbitrators recuse on a case. All arbitrators potentially have access to the archives of these mailing lists upon conclusion of the incident that either list was used for.

What happens to incoming ArbCom email?

See also: Misplaced Pages:Arbitration Committee/Procedures § Incoming mail

The committee is not necessarily the most appropriate body for every matter we are contacted about. Therefore, emails are shared with other trusted permissions holders on Misplaced Pages when, in an arbitrator's judgement, they cannot or must not be handled by the committee alone.

  • Spam: Almost all incoming email is spam that is deleted at moderation. Please include an informative subject line to avoid deletion. Messages are normally acknowledged by an arbitrator within 48 hours.
  • Child protection / child pornography: Reports should be made to WMF Legal. legal-reports@wikimedia.org.
  • Content change requests: Referred to VRT, either by forwarding or by an arbitrator writing back to recommend you send to there.
  • Suppression requests: Normally forwarded to the Oversight team, unless immediately actioned by an arbitrator.
  • Requests for checkuser/sockpuppetry investigations: Normally referred either to the Functionaries mailing list or to an individual checkuser.
  • Legal matters outside ArbCom's scope: Referred to the WMF Legal and Community Liaison.
  • Threats of harm to self or to others: Referred to the WMF emergency address, emergency@wikimedia.org.
  • Appeals of blocks or bans directly related to ArbCom decisions or Arbitration Enforcement: Discussed and decided by the full committee.
  • Requests about "checkuser" or "oversighter" blocks or bans: Appeals reviewed by the committee or forwarded to the Functionaries.
  • Requests to review actions of checkusers or oversighters: Discussed and decided by the full committee.
  • Emails about currently open arbitration cases: Handled according to the arbitration policy.
  • Emails relating to closed cases: Normally referred to Arbitration Enforcement unless private or non-public personal information is involved.
  • Other: Handled on a case-by-case basis, according to applicable policy and convention.

Communications and privacy

Arbitrators usually seek to treat communications with the committee, including emails, as confidential. That said, we cannot guarantee against public disclosure for a number of reasons, including potential security limitations. Accordingly, you should not disclose sensitive personal information in your communications with us.

Once received, your communications may be shared with committee members and – in some limited cases – with third parties as deemed appropriate. Your communications may be archived indefinitely and made available to future members of the committee.

Your email address may contain personal information that could reveal your real-life identity. Many people create email accounts specifically for Misplaced Pages use. Further information about safeguarding your privacy may be found at On privacy and How to not get outed on Misplaced Pages.

Misplaced Pages accounts and governance
Unregistered (IP) users
Registered users
Account security
Blocks, bans, sanctions,
global actions
Related to accounts
User groups
and global user groups
Advanced user groups
Committees and related
Governance
Category: