| Sockpuppet investigations |
|---|
| Information pages |
| SPI clerk pages |
|
| SPI archives |
Thesockpuppet investigations clerks are experienced editors with proven experience and judgment in thesockpuppetry andCheckUser policies. As a team, they help managesock puppetry investigations (SPI) cases.
Clerkship isopen to any user in good standing after an extended period as a trainee. Administrators are alsowelcome to help at SPI by patrolling.
The following is the list of all SPI clerks, currently active or inactive; they are listed here for ease of contact and coordination with the CheckUsers. The list of CheckUsers is locatedhere.
Last updated by:HouseBlaster, 3 October 2025
Clerks who are on a period of temporary absence from clerking.
Clerks who were removed from the above list due to long term inactivity. This list is far from exhaustive. Inactive clerks may rejoin the team as an active clerk, but theymust consult the functionaries team before doing so.
Any user in good standing may ask to be considered for clerkship. SPI clerks are initially accepted as trainees by CheckUser(s) and/or clerk(s).
Anyone in good standing may request to become a trainee clerk on theClerks' Noticeboard (this page's talk page). Please keep in mind that new SPI clerks are selected on anas needed basis; it is not unreasonable that clerk nominees who are otherwise knowledgeable and in good standing be turned down if there is no need at the time.
SPI is a complex area involving users alleging or being alleged to have engaged in (often deliberate and deceptive) misconduct, so it requires considerable experience and judgment at times. Other useful skills include good communication with other editors, a calm and thoughtful approach, and ideally prior experience with SPI ordispute resolution.
Successful candidates demonstrate a history of good judgement, especially with respect to sock puppetry. Requests for clerkship by administrators are usually accepted; non-admins who are accepted as trainees usually show good experience and working knowledge of the community's policies and practices. Users lacking much experience or whoseediting history doesn't suggest they are ready to undertake traineeship or clerking roles may be asked to re-request after several months when they can show consistent involvement, experience and reliable judgment within the Wikipedia community.
Trainees are able to perform the majority of the clerking duties with a fewexceptions. Because SPI is an area that can require skill, tact, and considerable experience, traineeship is usually for an extended period, until the CheckUsers feel the trainee's track record demonstrates sufficient judgment and experience to be relied upon without supervision.
As well as clerks,administrators help patrol the SPI cases. Administrators are not SPI clerks by default and should request clerkship if they wish to perform "clerk" actions; however, there are very helpful administrator tasks at SPI which any administrator can perform.
There is a public IRC channel#wikipedia-en-spiconnect for coordination among clerks and other users. If you have a question for the clerks feel free to ask it there.
There is also an invite only IRC channel#wikipedia-en-spi-clerksconnect for coordination between SPI clerks and CheckUsers.
Prior to the present clerking system being implemented, a team of appointed clerks performed these functions. A table of editors who served as clerks under the old system is kept for historical interest atWikipedia:Requests for checkuser/Clerks/Table. The current system is similar but is not built with a command structure.