Wikipedia:Sockpuppet investigations/SPI/Clerks
| Sockpuppet investigations |
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| Information pages |
| SPI clerk pages |
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| SPI archives |
- For the clerking co-ordination page, see the Clerks' Noticeboard.
The sockpuppet investigations clerks are experienced editors with proven experience and judgment in the sock puppetry and CheckUser policies. As a team, they help manage sock puppetry investigations (SPI) cases.
Clerkship is open to any user in good standing after an extended period as a trainee. Administrators are also welcome to help at SPI by patrolling.
List of clerks
The following is the list of all SPI clerks, currently active or inactive; they are listed here for ease of contact and coordination with the CheckUsers. The list of CheckUsers is located here.
Last updated by: Dbeef, 6 June 2025
Active clerks
- DoubleGrazing (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email) (Trainee – Dbeef/Moneytrees)
- JJMC89 (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
- MarioGom (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
- QEDK (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
- Sir Sputnik (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
- Tamzin (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
- TheSandDoctor (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
- The Wordsmith (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email) (Trainee – Spicy)
- Vanjagenije (talk · message · contribs · count · logs · email)
Temporarily inactive clerks
Clerks who are on a period of temporary absence from clerking.
Inactive clerks
Clerks who were removed from the above list due to long term inactivity. This list is far from exhaustive. Inactive clerks may rejoin the team as an active clerk, but they must consult the functionaries team before doing so.
Role and responsibilities of SPI clerks
Any user in good standing may ask to be considered for clerkship. SPI clerks are initially accepted as trainees by CheckUser(s) and/or clerk(s).
- Clerks analyze behavior, make findings, and decide whether sanctions are appropriate.
- Clerks help to ensure the smooth operation of SPI pages, cases and processes.
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- Ensuring SPI cases and processes stay in good order, including obtaining reasonable and productive conduct by participants. See also admin patroller guidance (below);
- Ensuring cases have proper evidence (especially for CheckUser requests) and requesting such evidence when not provided; and
- Assisting with housekeeping tasks, including closing, archiving, merging and formatting of cases.
- Some SPI tasks must be done only by clerks and CheckUsers
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- Determining whether requests for CheckUser are reasonable and within CheckUser policy.
Note that CheckUser requests do not need to be endorsed to be run. Ultimate discretion to use or not use the tool in any matter remains solely with individual CheckUsers. Also, clerks may request and self-endorse CheckUser attention. - Archiving cases; this is to ensure cases were not closed inappropriately and that any "loose ends" have been dealt with.
- Determining whether requests for CheckUser are reasonable and within CheckUser policy.
- SPI clerks must have the following qualities
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- They must be in good standing within the community.
- They must have a good working knowledge of Wikipedia policy and practice, especially in the area of sock puppetry and situations that need CheckUser assistance.
- They must show a high standard of mature and thoughtful behavior within Wikipedia, are likely to communicate well with participants, and, if needed, will consult over contentious issues and/or decline to act.
- They must be trusted by the CheckUsers.
- Finally, SPI clerks do not
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- Have any special status or special authority over the general community; and
- Have any privileges with, or additional access to, non-public information, including evidence available via the CheckUser tool. (Although some clerks may have access to non-public information in other capacities.)
Helping at SPI and requesting to join the clerks team
Becoming a trainee clerk
Anyone in good standing may request to become a trainee clerk on the Clerks' Noticeboard (this page's talk page). Please keep in mind that new SPI clerks are selected on an as needed basis; it is not unreasonable that clerk nominees who are otherwise knowledgeable and in good standing be turned down if there is no need at the time.
SPI is a complex area involving users alleging or being alleged to have engaged in (often deliberate and deceptive) misconduct, so it requires considerable experience and judgment at times. Other useful skills include good communication with other editors, a calm and thoughtful approach, and ideally prior experience with SPI or dispute resolution.
Successful candidates demonstrate a history of good judgement, especially with respect to sock puppetry. Requests for clerkship by administrators are usually accepted; non-admins who are accepted as trainees usually show good experience and working knowledge of the community's policies and practices. Users lacking much experience or whose editing history doesn't suggest they are ready to undertake traineeship or clerking roles may be asked to re-request after several months when they can show consistent involvement, experience and reliable judgment within the Wikipedia community.
Trainees are able to perform the majority of the clerking duties with a few exceptions. Because SPI is an area that can require skill, tact, and considerable experience, traineeship is usually for an extended period, until the CheckUsers feel the trainee's track record demonstrates sufficient judgment and experience to be relied upon without supervision.
Admin patrollers
As well as clerks, administrators help patrol the SPI cases. Administrators are not SPI clerks by default and should request clerkship if they wish to perform "clerk" actions; however, there are very helpful administrator tasks at SPI which any administrator can perform.
IRC channels
There is a public IRC channel #wikipedia-en-spi connect for coordination among clerks and other users. If you have a question for the clerks feel free to ask it there.
There is also an invite only IRC channel #wikipedia-en-spi-clerks connect for coordination between SPI clerks and CheckUsers.
Historical note
Prior to the present clerking system being implemented, a team of appointed clerks performed these functions. A table of editors who served as clerks under the old system is kept for historical interest at Wikipedia:Requests for checkuser/Clerks/Table. The current system is similar but is not built with a command structure.