[WikiEN-l] Brandt unblocked by Jimbo - community support?

[Jimmy Wales]

Jeff Raymond wrote:
> Unless Jimbo has pardon authority (which, for all intents and purposes, he
> may), this remains problematic.  Even *with* pardon authority, this
> remains problematic.

When I created the arbitration committee and delegated some powers to 
it, the most important "safety valve" which was retained (and quite 
properly, in order to sooth some concerns about whether a rogue ArbCom 
could do great damage to the openness of Wikipedia) was the right to pardon.

In this case, the ArbCom declined to act, quite properly within their 
right.  I have not overruled the ArbCom in any way by taking up the 
appeal myself and considering it.  This is the normal way things work.

Why?  Why do we do things this way rather than following some 
mechanistic legal system?  Because we know each other, we trust each 
other, we share responsibilities, and we proceed forward thoughtfully 
and carefully to try to make sure that in all cases, justice is done.

--Jimbo