Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee/History

Until the beginning of 2004, Jimbo Wales dealt with all serious disputes other than simple vandalism (straightforward vandals could be blocked by any administrator). He was also the only person with the authority to ban users. In December 2003 he delegated that role in dispute handling to an Arbitration Committee, with initial membership of volunteer experienced users. 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.

Selection process

The original Arbitration Committee was appointed in 2004 by Jimbo 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 annual advisory elections. In the past, Jimbo has not considered himself bound by the results of the elections and has stated that he will not appoint candidates with less than 50% support. Nevertheless, he has generally appointed arbitrators from among the candidates with the highest percentages of positive votes. Historically, users with past experience were sometimes re-appointed for continuity and vacancies arising from mid-term resignations were sometimes filled by extending the terms of other sitting arbitrators.

The committee initially comprised twelve arbitrators who served terms from one to three years, in three "tranches", so that about a third of the committee was up for reappointment each year. After the 2008 election, Jimbo increased the size of the committee to eighteen. From the 2009 elections onwards, the maximum term was reduced to two years, with two instead of three tranches.

Elections

Main page: Wikipedia:Arbitration Committee elections

Former members

• Carcharoth (January 2009 - December 2010)
• Charles, aka Mackensen (February 2006, February 2007 – December 2007)
• Charles Matthews (February 2006 – December 2008)
• Dan Garry, aka Deskana (January 2008 – December 2008)
• Daniel Mayer, aka Maveric149 (January 2004 – September 2005)
• David Gerard (January 2005 – January 2006)
• Dominic, aka Dmcdevit (February 2006 – February 2007)
• Essjay (February 2007 – March 2007)
• Fayssal Fertakh, aka FayssalF (January 2008 - December 2010)
• Fennec (July 2005 – January 2006)
• Filiocht (February 2006 – December 2008)
• Flcelloguy (January 2007 – December 2007)
• FloNight (January 2007 – December 2009)
• Frank Bednarz, aka Cool Hand Luke (January 2009 – December 2011)
• Fritzpoll (January 2010 – February 2010)
• Fred Bauder (January 2004 – December 2007)
• FT2 (January 2008 – January 2009)
• Gutza (January 2004 – December 2004)
• Iridescent (January 2011 – November 2011)
• Jayjg (July 2005 – December 2006)
• James Forrester, aka Jdforrester (January 2004 – December 2004, July 2005 – December 2008)
• James W. Rosenzweig aka Jwrosenzweig (August 2004 – December 2004)
• John Vandenberg (January 2009 – December 2009, January 2011 - December 2011)
• Josh Gordon, aka Jpgordon (January 2007 – December 2008)
• Kenneth Kua, aka Mailer diablo (January 2010 – December 2011)
• KnightLago (January 2010 – December 2010)
• Marc-André Pelletier, aka Coren (January 2009 – December 2011)
• Kat Walsh, aka Mindspillage (October 2005 – December 2006)

• Kelly Martin (October 2005 – January 2006)
• Lee Pilich, aka Camembert (January 2004 – December 2004)
• Mark, aka Delirium (January 2004 – July 2005)
• Mark Pellegrini, aka Raul654 (August 2004 – December 2007)
• Martin Harper, aka MyRedDice (January 2004 – December 2004)
• Matthew Brown, aka Morven (February 2006 – December 2008)
• Neutrality (January 2005 – December 2007)
• David Friedland, aka Nohat (January 2004 – September 2005)
• Paul August (January 2007 – August 2008)
• Rebecca, aka Ambi (January 2005 – July 2005)
• Richard Symonds, aka Chase me ladies, I'm the Cavalry (January 2011 – December 2011)
• "Vanished 6551232" (January 2009 – October 2010)
• Sam Blacketer (January 2008 – May 2009)
• Sam Korn (February 2006 – December 2006)
• Sannse (January 2005 – November 2005)
• Sean Barrett, aka The Epopt (January 2004 – December 2006)
• Simon Pulsifer, aka SimonP (February 2006 – December 2007)
• Shell Kinney (January 2010 – July 2011)
• Stephen Bain aka Thebainer (January 2008 – December 2009)
• Steve Smith (January 2010 – November 2010)
• Steven Dunlop, aka UninvitedCompany (January 2004 – February 2004, January 2007 – September 2008)
• Steven Melenchuk, aka Grunt (January 2005 – July 2005)
• The Cunctator (January 2004 – December 2004)
• Theresa Knott (January 2005 – December 2006)
• Vassyana (January 2009 – January 2010)
• Wizardman (January 2009 – May 2010)
• YellowMonkey, aka Blnguyen (January 2007 – December 2008)

Activity reports

The Committee has occasionally published reports regarding its activity:

• January to June 2009

More detailed statistical reports are available for a number of periods:

• 2011 statistics
• 2010 statistics
• 2009 statistics
• 2008 statistics