Wikipedia:Arbitration/Policy/Proposals/Removing legalese

Please direct preliminary discussion to the talk page.

Summary of proposal

This is a series of proposals to remove the legalese in the Arbitration policy. The ArbCom is not a Court of Law - and nor should it be. Removing legalese should help deter those who try to make our dispute resolution process a legal one. The ArbCom is a group of Wikipedians chosen by other Wikipedians to help resolve disputes.

The proposals replace legal wording. There are no substantive changes.

Please direct preliminary discussion to the talk page.

Proposed changes

Jurisdiction

Rename this section "Scope".

Rules

Replace:

The Arbitrators will judge cases according to the following guidelines, which they will apply with common sense and discretion, and an eye to the expectations of the community:

With:

The Arbitrators will determine cases according to the following guidelines, which they will apply with common sense and discretion, and an eye to the expectations of the community:

Hearing

Replace "litigants" with "participants" throughout.

That is, replace:

Litigants involved in cases heard by the Arbitration Committee will present their cases and evidence as directed on a sub-page of the case page, itself a sub-page of requests for arbitration, titled as "[Username]" or "[UsernameA] v. [UsernameB]" or the like, at the discretion of the Arbitrator responsible for opening the case. Litigants shall be defined as the user or users named in the case or any advocates they identify.

Litigants may add evidence and argument to the case page at any time. Evidence and argument may also be posted by third parties and by the Arbitrators themselves. The Arbitrators reserve the right to disregard certain items of evidence or certain lines of argument.

With:

Participants in cases heard by the Arbitration Committee will present their cases and evidence as directed on a sub-page of the case page, itself a sub-page of requests for arbitration, titled as "[Username]" or "[UsernameA] v. [UsernameB]" or the like, at the discretion of the Arbitrator responsible for opening the case. Participants shall be defined as the user or users named in the case or any advocates they identify.

Participants may add evidence and argument to the case page at any time. Evidence and argument may also be posted by third parties and by the Arbitrators themselves. The Arbitrators reserve the right to disregard certain items of evidence or certain lines of argument.

Judgement

Rename this section "Final Decision".

Replace:

Judgments are subject to veto by Jimbo Wales.

With:

Decisions are subject to veto by Jimbo Wales.

Preliminary poll (none yet)

Do not open this vote until at least two weeks of discussion have occurred.

Final vote (none yet)

Do not open this vote until the preliminary poll has passed with at least ~70% support.