WP:AC redirects here. You may be looking for Wikipedia:Admin coaching (WP:ADMINCOACH).

The Arbitration Committee is a panel of experienced users, that exists to impose binding solutions to Wikipedia disputes that neither communal discussion, administrators, nor mediation have been able to resolve, and to consider certain cases where exceptional factors such as privacy preclude a public hearing.

Arbitration is the last step in the dispute resolution 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, mediation. The Arbitration Committee only deals with the most serious disputes and cases of rule-breaking.

Until the beginning of 2004, Jimbo Wales dealt with all serious disputes other than simple vandalism (straight-forward vandals could be blocked by any administrator). He was also the only person with the authority to ban users. His role in dispute handling has now largely been delegated to the Arbitration Committee. Wales wrote in January 2004:

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.

In April 2007, Wales confirmed that the committee could overturn any decision he makes in his traditional capacity within Wikipedia.

To request Arbitration or for cases, see Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration. The Arbitration policy details the rules and procedures involved.

Any private material intended for the Committee's attention should be sent to arbcom-llists.wikimedia.org.

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 Jimbo Wales to cast a tie-breaking vote, but this has yet to occur.)

The Committee has also decided against having a chairperson.

Status of members is either Active or Inactive (no Arbitration activity in the last two weeks, or a statement indicating inactivity).

As of 27 January 2008:

Active

1. Blnguyen (talk · contribs · email)
2. Deskana (talk · contribs · email) (djgwikigooglemail.com)
3. FayssalF (talk · contribs · email) (Fayssal Fertakh, szvestgmail.com)
4. FloNight (talk · contribs · email)
5. FT2 (talk · contribs · email) (public inbox: ft2wikipedia.inboxgmail.com)
6. Jdforrester (talk · contribs · email) (James Forrester aka "James F.", jdforrestergmail.com)
7. Jpgordon (talk · contribs · email) (Josh Gordon, user.jpgordongmail.com)
8. Kirill Lokshin (talk · contribs · email) (kirill.lokshingmail.com)
9. Morven (talk · contribs · email) (Matthew Brown, morvengmail.com )
10. Newyorkbrad (talk · contribs · email) (newyorkbradgmail.com)
11. Paul August (talk · contribs · email)
12. Sam Blacketer (talk · contribs · email) (sam.blacketergmail.com)
13. Thebainer (talk · contribs · email)
14. UninvitedCompany (talk · contribs · email) (Steve Dunlop, uninvitednerstrand.net)

Inactive

1. Charles Matthews (talk · contribs · email) (charles.r.matthewsntlworld.com)

Selection process

The original Arbitration Committee was appointed by Jimmy Wales, 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.

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.

Click [show] to display a chart of Arbitration Committee members since January 2007; see #Full history for the complete list.

There have been five elections to date: July 2004 (only to fill two vacancies), December 2004, January 2006, December 2006, and December 2007. The next election is scheduled for December 2008.

Former members

Full history

Click [show] to display a chart of the Arbitration Committee composition since its inception in 2004.

The Wikimedia Foundation maintains a private mailing list for Arbitration Committee business. The subscribers to the list (as of 1 January 2008) are:

Present members (including members on leave):

• Blnguyen, Charles Matthews, Deskana, FayssalF, FloNight, FT2, Jdforrester, Jpgordon, Kirill Lokshin, Morven, Newyorkbrad, Paul August, Sam Blacketer, Thebainer, UninvitedCompany

Past members:

• David Friedland aka Nohat, Rebecca, Sannse, David Gerard, Jayjg, Kat Walsh aka Mindspillage, Sam Korn, Sean Barrett aka The Epopt, Theresa Knott, Dmcdevit, Fred Bauder, Mackensen, Neutrality, Raul654, SimonP

Other:

• Jimbo Wales

The standing convention of the Committee is to allow former Arbitrators in good standing to remain on the list indefinitely.

In addition to its role in dispute resolution, the Arbitration Committee selects editors to receive checkuser and oversight permissions pursuant to the Checkuser and Oversight policies.

The Arbitration Committee Clerks assist the Arbitration Committee in procedural aspects of its work, such as opening and closing case pages and issuing notifications of decisions. Parties with procedural questions about the arbitration process may consult a Clerk for assistance. For further information, please see Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/Clerks.