Main case page (Talk)Evidence (Talk)Workshop (Talk)Proposed decision (Talk)

Case clerks: Tiptoety (Talk) & Salvio giuliano (Talk)Drafting arbitrators: Casliber (Talk) & Newyorkbrad (Talk)

Case Opened on 04:16, 7 March 2011 (UTC)
Case Closed By Motion on 04:39, 6 April 2011 (UTC)

Please do not edit this page directly unless you are either 1) an Arbitrator, 2) an Arbitration Clerk, or 3) adding yourself to this case. Statements on this page are original comments provided when the Committee was initially requested to Arbitrate this page (at Requests for arbitration), and serve as opening statements; as such, they should not be altered. Any evidence you wish to provide to the Arbitrators should go on the /Evidence subpage.

Arbitrators, the parties, and other editors may suggest proposed principles, findings, and remedies at /Workshop. That page may also be used for general comments on the evidence. Arbitrators will then vote on a final decision in the case at /Proposed decision.

Once the case is closed, editors may add to the #Log of blocks, bans, and restrictions as needed, but this page should not be edited otherwise. Please raise any questions at Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration#Requests for clarification, and report violations of remedies at Wikipedia:Administrators' noticeboard/Arbitration enforcement. Initiated by Hasteur (talk) at 00:37, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Involved parties

Confirmation that all parties are aware of the request
Confirmation that other steps in dispute resolution have been tried

Statement by Hasteur

As a uninvolved member of the Wikipedia community, I have observed the contentious editing and accusations that have occured on WP:ANI. After reading through the discussion of the Arbitration Committee's decision to de-sysop Rodhullandemu (and it's firey debate) I was ashamed. After Rhodhullandemu's authorization I am opening this pro-forma case to air the evidence (as claimed by the ArbCom) and to let Rhodhullandemu respond to said evidence. I am aware the WP:BURO says we're not supposed to do process for process's sake, however I do suspect that this line of inquiry won't die down until the full case (as suggested by ArbCom and invited by Rhodhullandemu) is done with.

For the record, I am 100% open to letting someone else (Possibly Elen of the Roads) represent the de-sysop position because I do not feel that strongly about the issue.
Rodhullandemu, you're digging yourself a pit. Please don't make it any larger. You obviously represent the "Give back the Janitor's Keys" side, someone who is familiar with the other side of the discussion should represent that. I know you're very caustic in your discourse, but please demonstrate some of the same good sense that allowed you to be given the keys in the first place. Hasteur (talk) 01:42, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
@To the many respondents and to the people spoiling for a fight: As it appears that the original aggrieved party has elected to withdraw from this process (by instigating their retirement) I see no reason to continue this case. However I do highly recommend a civil RfC to clarify ArbCom's ability to bring cases on it's own behalf (i.e. Without a formal petition as posted on the Requests for Arbitration board) due to this procedure being invoked in this case. Hasteur (talk) 15:05, 6 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
@LHvU It is my understanding that blocks are supposed to be preventative and not punitive. Could you please clarify how blocking RH&E satisfies the preventative formula of this question? To my understanding a "Retired" template is a voluntary "notice" by an editor that they may not be responding as much. Adding the template does not require them to hand over their editing privileges. Please elucidate for me as to why you believe these things as it appears from my prospective to be a case of Administrative Tool Abuse for you to apply the block for the justifying reason given. Hasteur (talk) 15:05, 6 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Statement by Rodhullandemu

Whereas a neutral position is welcome, I specifically required the ArbCom to defend their indefensible position. My authority was to ArbCom to justify its actions, not for another editor to take up my position, however well-intentioned. Of course, asking a tribunal, however constituted or appointed, to review its own decisions, is fraught with conflict of interest issues. Meanwhile, with the best of intentions, I still require ArbCom to justify itself to the community that elected it, but if they are that confident in their own powers, they will take over this request, and defend themselves to the ultimate benefit of the commmunity. Rodhull andemu 01:09, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

@Hasteur: You're prepared to let the Witchfinder General seem to be unbiased? I do not think so. Rodhull andemu 01:37, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Sorry, but if someone sticks a knife into me, I'm going to remove it. That is nothing to do with who the person sticking the knife in to begin with is. It's pure self-preservation. Rodhull andemu 01:51, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

@GWHerbert re mails:I have already released them unedited to an uninvolved third party, and Jimmy Wales. For the avoidance of doubt, I have nothing to hide, and I retain the originals as sent to me. Rodhull andemu 01:28, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
@HJ Mitchell: Are you crazy? Admins who combat vandalism as a career do not make friends. Reality, please! Rodhull andemu

Look at the diffs: I left him alone until he started falsfiying sources on Clown. I was prepared to do so. Rodhull andemu 01:48, 2 March 2011 (UTC) 01:30, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

@Jehochman re "without being given a chance to respond in the open": As will become apparent when the email exchanges are made public, not only was I not given a chance to respond either in the open OR in private, when I requested diffs of the case against me, they were not provided, so no such chance ever arose. It will also become apparent that the ArbCom have cited one set of reasons in private for my desysopping, and another set in public. Rodhull andemu 21:10, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

@Malleus: ArbCom isn't interested in content disputes. I invited you to take it to the Talk page, or other WP:DR, but you didn't. Not my problem. Rodhull andemu 00:24, 3 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Preliminary decisions

Arbitrators' opinion on hearing this matter (13/1/1/1)

Temporary injunction

Interim motion

For this motion, there are 16 active Arbitrators (excluding 1 who is recused), so 9 votes are a majority
Although Risker is currently on the inactive list, she has voted on this motion, so she counts in calculating the majority. Newyorkbrad (talk) 13:53, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Should the Rodhullandemu case be opened, the 26 February 2011 motion posted to the Arbitration Committee noticeboard ("Rodhullandemu's administrator status is revoked. He may apply for adminship at a future date by the usual means to the community.") is rescinded and replaced with a temporary injunction suspending Rodhullandemu's administrative privileges for the duration of the case.

Support
  1. Proposed. –xeno talk 02:59, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  2. If the case is accepted and opened, this is an appropriate action. Newyorkbrad (talk) 03:27, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  3. Casliber (talk · contribs) 03:33, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  4. Correct. Cool Hand Luke 03:34, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  5. Concur with my colleagues. Risker (talk) 03:36, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  6. John Vandenberg (chat) 03:40, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  7. SirFozzie (talk) 03:41, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  8. Shell babelfish 04:02, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  9. Fair enough, although the difference between the two formulations is probably too subtle. Kirill [talk] [prof] 12:34, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  10. No problems with this,  Roger talk 13:55, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  11. Der Wohltemperierte Fuchs(talk) 16:23, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  12. Mailer Diablo 20:13, 3 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  13. Following discussion, and comments, including Sandstein's, I now realise this is appropriate. The original desyop was temporary, and should be replaced with this interim injunction. PhilKnight (talk) 21:09, 4 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Oppose
  1. I see no compelling reason to do this for mere process' sake. The only effect is semantic, and the net effect is that he is still desysop'ed for the duration of the case. Should there be a reversal of the outcome, it would be appropriate to restore the bit then. We are not a court, where a permanent injunction vs. a temporary restraining order is a meaningful differentiation, and shouldn't strive to emulate one. Jclemens (talk) 05:05, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
  2. Jclemens has this exactly right. This is a motion for the sake of... well, I can't quite figure out what purpose it's supposed to serve. It has no effect. — Coren (talk) 12:15, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]
Abstain
As far as I can tell, this doesn't actually make any meaningful difference beyond reclassifying the temporary desyop as a temporary injunction. While I don't object, I'm not entirely convinced this is necessary. PhilKnight (talk) 13:01, 2 March 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Closed by motion

This arbitration case was opened to review the administrator conduct and status of Rodhullandemu. Substantial relevant evidence was presented here. However, while the case was pending, Rodhullandemu was blocked for reasons unrelated to the issues raised in the case itself. Since then, the Arbitration Committee voted to block Rodhullandemu indefinitely. Accordingly, Rodhullandemu's administrator privileges are revoked and the case is closed.

Support: Casliber, Cool Hand Luke, David Fuchs, Jclemens, Iridescent, John Vandenberg, Kirill Lokshin, Newyorkbrad, PhilKnight, Risker, Roger Davies, Shell Kinney, SirFozzie, Xeno

For the Arbitration Committee,  Roger Davies talk 04:38, 6 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Appeal to Jimbo Wales

On April 8, in an email entitled "Up to you" Rodhullandemu filed a formal appeal of the ArbCom ruling. I set aside time Monday and Tuesday to review the evidence. I have reviewed both the evidence filed on wiki, and internal email discussions. I find that ArbCom has acted responsibly and honorably at all times, reviewing the entire context with sensitivity and tact. We have here an admin of long standing, who has contributed in many valuable ways to the project, but whose conduct has also at times strayed far beyond what is allowed. I thank Rodhullandemu for his many contributions, and urge him to seek professional/medical help to return to happiness, strength and health.

I am upholding for now both the revocation of administrator privileges and the indefinite block. I am also making a minor modification to the appeal conditions. ArbCom has stated "The editor may ask the Committee for periodic reviews of this decision by email." I am modifying this to read: "The editor may ask the Committee for periodic reviews of this decision by email. Furthermore, upon presentation to him of real-world evidence that professional/medical help has been sought and followed for six months, and upon the recommendation of those professionals, Jimbo Wales will recommend to the committee that Rodhullandemu be allowed back provisionally."--Jimbo Wales (talk) 11:50, 13 April 2011 (UTC)[reply]