[WikiEN-l] Qualifications for referrals to arbitration.

[Brian Corr]

I think that it is very important that the Mediation Committee be empowered 
to send cases to the Arbitration Committee. I understand that it is 
worrisome to people that the Mediation Committee could force the 
Arbitration Committee to take a case even if they felt it did not merit 
review. However, the mediation process is not being taken seriously:  not 
only is mediation seen as something that has little to no actual effect, 
there are also no negative consequences for trivial requests for mediation. 
Mediators are being burned out and very little progress is being made, 
despite a couple of successes.

So in short, the Mediation Committee is currently experiencing the very 
thing that some members of the Arbitration Committee fear -- being 
compelled to take cases where there may not be a serious intent on the part 
of those asking for mediation. If those requesting mediation knew that 
requests for mediation are part of a serious process that will eventually 
lead to a resolution, I believe it would go a long way towards making the 
system work better and reducing the burden on mediators -- and NOT but 
transferring that burden to the Arbitration Committee.

Also, I think that -- just as the Arbitration Committee has policies about 
accepting cases -- the Mediation Committee should be able to set its 
policies about how it would decide to refer cases to Arbitration with 
discussion from all interested people (and polling if needed). As a member 
of the Mediation Committee, I can't imagine asking to have a case referred 
to arbitration without consulting with my colleagues, but at the same time 
I'm a bit apprehensive about there being some sort of requirement that the 
Mediation Committee have a consensus or vote about it before a case is 
referred to arbitration. However, I agree that there needs to be agreement 
between both committees -- and other Wikipedians, for that matter -- on how 
this would work in practice.

And just to clarify for those who aren't intimately involved in these 
committees, the current system is that ONLY Jimbo can refer a case to 
Arbitration, and then the Arbitration Committee votes on whether to accept 
it: "Currently, the arbitrators accept referrals from Jimbo Wales only, 
which they decide to arbitrate on based on the voting procedure described 
at wikipedia:arbitration policy." Therefore, the change that Jimbo is 
supporting would simply be to allow the Mediation Committee to refer cases 
without Jimbo's intervention. 
<http://mail.wikipedia.org/pipermail/wikien-l/2004-March/011973.html >

I think that we can discuss a set of guidelines on the mediation policy 
talk page that will address all of the concerns which have been raised by 
people.

Thanks,
Brian (Bcorr)

>On Tue, 2004-03-30 at 15:22, Fred Bauder wrote:
>
>     As it stands we have an effective mechanism to regulate access to
>     arbitration. 4 arbitrators must vote to accept the case. What is
>     being talked about is some change which would bypass or abrogate
>     that mechanism. Apparently Jimbo's wish, but not absolutely sure.
>     One of his referals (Anthony) never got the 4 votes and he made no
>     comment.
>
>     Fred