The following is a proposed Wikipedia policy, guideline, or process. The proposal may still be in development, under discussion, or in the process of gathering consensus for adoption.
This is a code of conduct for members of the Arbitration Committee, Wikipedia's final dispute-resolution body. Its members are expected to have integrity, behave honestly, and be fair and neutral in their dealings with other editors. Editors should not stand for membership of the Committee if they are not willing to abide by this code of conduct.
Preface
As Wikipedia is not a bureaucracy, this code is to be honoured in spirit as well as in letter; it is not an exhaustive list of the expected proper conduct of Committee members.
User accounts
Candidates are expected to disclose all previous accounts and current alternative accounts during their candidacy. If there are privacy concerns, they should declare the number of accounts they have operated, the period during which the accounts were active, whether the hidden accounts had clean block records. They should pass the names of the accounts to two or more checkusers with an explanation as to why the information cannot be made public. Those in receipt of this information will verify the information about the accounts and assist the candidate in explaining the accounts to the Community by documenting non-private information about the account(s) on the candidates nomination page.
Candidates are expected to declare any other matter they believe the community might regard as an impediment to their service in good standing on the Committee.
Members must recuse themselves from cases in which they could reasonably be said to have a conflict of interest. This includes holding strong views on the topic at hand, and significant current or past involvement with one of the parties, either on favourable or unfavourable terms.
Workload
Arbitrators are expected to do their utmost to perform their duties to the best of their ability without fear or favour and to prioritize their responsibilities as arbitrators over all other Wikipedia commitments. They are neither expected nor required to prioritize their arbitration role above real-life commitments and responsibilities.
Arbitrators are reminded that the attrition rate among arbitrators is high and they are encouraged to pace their work load and participation accordingly. A stressed arbitrator is unlikely to be performing at their best.
Upholding site rules and policies
Members are expected to apply Wikipedia's policies and the Committee's decisions equally to all editors, and to uphold the rules themselves, on- and off-wiki.
The primary responsibility of an arbitrator is to preserve the encyclopedia and to protect it from harm, and an arbitrator may use any reasonable means to further this objective. This sometimes includes providing informal advice and/or guidance with a view to reducing potential problems. When a Committee member knows of a serious violation of policy, or of any violation of the Committee's sanctions, that member is obliged to, at a minimum, consult promptly with another Committee member, and where appropriate, inform the rest of the Committee.
Leave of absence and resignation
Arbitrators temporarily unable to perform their duties – for reasons such as on- or off-wiki harassment, heavy workloads or real-life commitments, should take a leave of absence.
An arbitrator is expected to resign where a leave of absence becomes extended. Resignation will include removal from all Arbitration Committee mailing lists and channels. Arbitrators who have resigned and who wish to regain a position on the Committee must go through the normal channels by standing for election.
Resigning under a cloud
Arbitrators who resign under a cloud, resign preemptively to avoid being forced to resign under a cloud, or whose membership is removed by the Committee, will lose checkuser and oversight access, as well as access to the Arbitration and functionary mailing lists and other privileged channels.
