Outstanding Volunteers of the Month

The work of LeaderEthics would not be possible without the dedication and talent of our incredible volunteers. Each month, we proudly recognize one volunteer whose exemplary efforts make a real difference in advancing our mission.

This month, we honor three: Dale Pasell, David Peterson, and Tom Lister. Together, they serve as the Panel of Judges for LeaderEthics...an essential part of ensuring that our organization consistently lives up to its name. Each month, the Panel reviews the articles featured in The Ethics Report before publication, assessing the content for any signs of bias, whether intentional or unintended. Over the past eight years, they have carefully examined hundreds of articles with the same steady commitment to fairness and clarity.

And they don’t serve in name only. They bring real judicial experience to the table.

• Judge Dale Pasell served on the La Crosse County Circuit Court, Branch 5, from 1999 to 2014.

• Judge David Peterson served 23 years as a Minnesota District Court Judge, plus two additional years as a Senior Judge.

• Judge Tom Lister served on the Jackson County Circuit Court in Wisconsin for six years, retiring in 2014.

Their work is invaluable. As you can imagine, when writing about today’s complex and often polarized political environment, questions or concerns occasionally arise about an article’s content. When that happens, we are able to confidently point to our review process, and to the Panel of Judges who stand behind it. Nearly every time, that reassurance is all that’s needed.

Beyond their formal duties, they offer something just as meaningful: a steady, thoughtful perspective at a time when our political landscape can feel uncertain. Their service is both dedicated and deeply generous.

We are profoundly grateful for their guidance, their integrity, and the quiet strength they bring to LeaderEthics.