Wikipedia:Arbitration guide

Arbitration is the final step in 's process for resolving conduct disputes. The Arbitration Committee considers requests to open new Arbitration cases and to review previous decisions, as described in the Arbitration policy. A panel of highly experienced users will consider evidence and reach a decision that is binding on everyone. The Arbitration Committee does not rule on content disputes, which are resolved by alternative methods.

If you are considering an arbitration case, or are involved in one, please read this page carefully. Arbitration is an exceptional step in a dispute and has a number of structured norms that are unlike those of other stages of dispute resolution. If you do not understand how Arbitration approaches your dispute, you may find the process bewildering and unpleasant. It is therefore in your best interest to understand what will happen if you are involved in a request for an arbitration case, and if that request is accepted and a case opened.

The features of an arbitration case are that:

After considering a request for arbitration (at ) and any previous attempts at dispute resolution, the Arbitration Committee will vote on whether or not to open a case. If a case is opened, involved parties and members of the community will have the opportunity to present evidence and comments pertaining to the dispute. After considering the evidence, the Arbitrators will reach a binding decision that may include various remedies, ranging from comparatively minor reprimands to severe sanctions. If a case is not opened, the arbitrators will often offer suggestions to resolve the dispute without arbitration, and these are often worth serious consideration.

The arbitration process can be stressful, lengthy, and tedious, but it is useful to remember that the arbitrators will have had little or no involvement or knowledge of the dispute in question, and that their interests are in the project in general.

In general, arbitration is a venue of last resort and matters should not be referred to arbitration when a lesser step will be sufficient. Alternative mechanisms of dispute resolution include:

However, in some cases ArbCom may accept a request for arbitration without previous dispute resolution processes. Such cases would be to:

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