The following is essentially (with minor adjustments and additions) what I just posted to the talk page on the proposed decision in RK's arbitration case:
This situation is entirely my fault, based in large part on my inexperience as an arbitrator. I asked on the proposed decision page what should be done about the ban. An admin (not an arbitrator) left me a note saying I could impose the block myself -- I should have taken the advice I have often given others, and waited for the input of an experienced arbitrator. I had been editing a bit too long, and I think I was trying to tie up too many loose ends as an arbitrator all in one night.
As a result, I did not give RK the notification or the time to put affairs in order that now seem like such an obvious thing to me. I apologize deeply and sincerely to RK for this -- I am more than willing to unblock RK and allow him the time to set his user and user talk pages in the state he prefers. This was not intended by me as a slight to RK in any way: as I said, it's purely a combination of my inexperience as an arbitrator and my appalling failure to consider the matter with more care and prudence. I will copy this to the mailing list so that RK sees my response: if he wishes, he is more than welcome to let me know he would like to be unblocked for a day to set things in order.
I apologize once again to him, and to the Wikipedia community, for not displaying more fully the kind of careful and well-thought-out action that I believe led the community to entrust me with this position, and I promise to remedy that in the future.
James Rosenzweig
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