Wikipedia:Arbitration Committtee Code of Conduct/revision1

Courtesy

Arbitration Committee members are expected to maintain a respectful attitude toward parties to an arbitration case and those who present evidence.

Adequate explanation of decisions

Members of the Arbitration Committee are expected to make a good faith effort to explain the basis for their decisions. This may include recitation of the Wikipedia policies and guidelines the decision is based on and findings of fact regarding current Wikipedia policy. Findings of fact regarding behavior of the parties should be supported by links to edits made by the parties. If the arbitrators adopt the evidence presented on the /Evidence page as support for a finding of fact a link can be made to that evidence. The remedies included in the decision reached by the Arbitration Committee should address mitigation of the policy violations exposed by the findings of fact.

In addition to support included in the decision itself, Arbitration Committee members should made a reasonable attempt to respond to requests by the parties and other users who request explanations of their decisions.

Recusal

Arbitrators should recuse themselves from any case which they feel they cannot fairly participate in due either to strong negative or positive feelings toward the parties or subject matter. This includes a dispute they have been personally involved in. Recusal may be appropriate in some cases where there is no actual prejudice but there is a strong appearance of possible prejudice.

Parties which repeatedly appear before the Arbitration Committee should not expect that negative findings made in prior cases by an Arbitrator constitute grounds for recusal nor that expressions of negative feelings or personal attacks toward an Arbitrator by a party to a prior arbitration constitute grounds for recusal.

Arbitrators should request the assistance of administrators in the enforcement of arbitration decisions.

In the event a party or other user feels an arbitrator should recuse themselves they should make a motion on the /Workshop page of the arbitration setting forth the grounds requiring recusal. The motion may be considered the Arbitration Committee and if a majority of the Committee agrees that the Arbitrator should recuse themselves they shall do so. The ruling on such a motion may be appealed to User:Jimmy Wales.

Parties are entitled to a fair hearing

Arbitration Committee members should consider the evidence presented by all the parties and other users. It may be helpful to comment on evidence which was not considered significant as well as on that which was relied on in arriving at a decision. If the history or status of a party is considered in arriving at a decision that should be disclosed as part of the basis for the decision. Wikipedia administrators and other experienced users should be held to a higher standard of behavior than inexperienced users. However valued members of the community who have engaged in difficult situations involving conflict shall not be negatively sanctioned on that account.

Recourse against Arbitrators

Parties to an arbitration as well as other interested users are welcome to express their disagreement with an arbitration decision and with the quality of the work of individual arbitrators in appropriate forums. Such criticism, provided it is rationally related to an arbitration decision, shall not be held to be disruptive or a personal attack. Excessive or repeated criticism of an arbitrator which is not related to their behavior in an arbitration case on Wikipedia may in appropriate situations be considered a personal attack.