Committee Members
- Thomas J. Basting, Sr.
- Dean R. Dietrich
- Dennis L. Dresang
- Joseph P. Heim
- John M. Laabs
- Neal Nettesheim
Thomas J. Basting, Sr. is the Immediate Past President of the State Bar of Wisconsin and a member of Midwest Mediation, LLC in Madison. He is also: past chair of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Standing Committee on Professional Ethics; past chair of the State Bar Litigation Section; Special Counsel to the Office of Lawyer Regulation; and special investigator and counsel to the Wisconsin Judicial Commission. Mr. Basting has served as investigator and special prosecutor for the State of Wisconsin Ethics Board. He is a Certified Civil Trial Advocate by the National Board of Trial Advocacy, Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and a Fellow of the International Society of Barristers. He is currently a member of the Educational Communications Board and is President of the Board of the Friends of WHA-TV. Mr. Basting received his B.S. degree from Marquette University in 1959 and his J.D. from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1962.
Dean R. Dietrich is a partner with the Ruder Ware Law Firm where he represents private and public sector employers in all aspects of labor and employment law. He is a graduate of Marquette University (B.S., 1974) and Marquette University Law School (J.D., 1977).
Since July 1991, Mr. Dietrich has served on the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Committee on Professional Ethics. He currently serves as Chair of the Committee and served as Chair from 2000-2002. He also served on the Committee appointed by the Wisconsin Supreme Court to review and propose changes to Chapter 20, the Rules of Professional Conduct for Attorneys. Mr. Dietrich served as Treasurer of the State Bar of Wisconsin from 2001-2005.
Mr. Dietrich has been a frequent presenter and author on the topic of professional ethics and professional responsibility. He has represented attorneys in matters before the Wisconsin Supreme Court Office of Lawyer Regulation and has consulted with numerous law firms and lawyers regarding compliance with the Rules of Professional Conduct.
Dennis L. Dresang is a Professor of Political Science and Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin — Madison. He chaired the Political Science Department from 1990 to 1993 and from 1999 to 2001 and was Founding Director of the La Follette Institute of Public Affairs. Dresang was Director of the State of Wisconsin’s Employment Relations Study Commission in 1976 to 1977. He also served on the Editorial Board of Review of Public Personnel Administration since 1987 and as: Vice-Chair, City of Madison and Dane County Committee to Unify Public Health Services, 1998 to 2002; member, Civil Service Commission, Dane County, 1990 to 2001; Vice-Chair, Glass Ceiling Task Force, Dane County, 1994 to 1995; Chair, Task Force on Comparable Worth, State of Wisconsin, 1984 to 86; and many other civic and academic positions. He earned his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in1964, his M.A. from the University of California — Los Angeles in 1965 and his Ph.D. from the University of California — Los Angeles in 1971.
Joseph P. Heim is a Professor of Political Science and Director of the Public Administration Program at the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse. He is an election and politics commentator for Wisconsin Public Television and other media and serves on the Wisconsin Educational Approval Board and as UW — La Crosse Legislative Liaison. Past appointments include the Wisconsin State Legislative Council Special Committee on Local Government Funding (1999-2000); County of La Crosse Committee on County Board Size Executive Reorganization (1988); and the Government Resources Committee, United Coulee Region (1999 to 2001). He is active in the American Political Science Association, the American Society for Public Administrators, the Wisconsin Political Science Association, the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters and the U.S. Capitol Historical Society. Professor Heim earned his M.A. degree in Political Science from Marquette University Graduate School in 1968 and his Ph.D. in Political Science from University of Wisconsin -‑ Milwaukee in 1976.
John M. Laabs is President, CEO and member of the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Foundation, the charitable, educational and research organization affiliated with the WBA. In addition, he is the executive producer and host of the Foundation’s Political Debate Series, presented in all Wisconsin television markets in state gubernatorial and U.S. Senate election campaigns. From 1987 to 2007, Mr. Laabs served as the President of the WBA, a 325-member trade association representing commercial and non-commercial radio and television interests in Wisconsin. Prior to joining the WBA, Mr. Laabs worked as the executive assistant to the secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue and for the Wisconsin Counties Association, as well as holding various positions for members of Congress and the Wisconsin Legislature. Mr. Laabs graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1972.
