[WikiEN-l] Arbitrator recusals (was 172 de-sysopped)

Thu Mar 3 08:08:47 UTC 2005

David Gerard wrote:

> There's *supposed* to be a rule that if half the arbcom recuses, then all
> are unrecused and back on the case. It doesn't appear to have made it 
> into
> the rules. It or something like it really really needs to be in there.

The rule wasn't included in that form because I raised objections, and 
still would. The image of properly recused arbitrators suddenly 
un-recusing themselves can look really really bad to people skeptical 
about our commitment to fairness (about as bad as, say, a properly 
blocked admin deciding to unblock himself).

"Something like it", as in an alternative solution to deal with this 
scenario, would be much better. My suggestion was for the matter to 
bypass the Arbitration Committee and go straight to the Board, or else 
for Jimbo or the Board to appoint emergency arbitrators to substitute 
for those who are recused.

I think the idea of "pro tempore" arbitrators for these rare cases is 
adequate to handle the problem. Wikipedia is big enough that nobody can 
get their oar in on every dispute, a principle that applies to the 
arbitrators as well and means that almost certainly at least a couple 
sitting arbitrators will not need to recuse themselves. Also, it 
wouldn't be necessary to reconstitute a full committee of twelve; I'd be 
satisfied if emergency appointments brought the number of arbitrators 
hearing the case back up to seven or so.

So at most Jimbo would need to come up with four or five people who have 
good sense at how to handle these things. I don't think this would be 
terribly difficult for him. We have several experienced former 
arbitrators whom I at least would happily trust to deal with a case in 
an emergency. And I could name a number of other people who might be 
qualified, depending on the particular case that presents itself. This 
would also be a helpful way to get in some practical observation of 
people who may be candidates for election to the Arbitration Committee 
in the future.

--Michael Snow