Joseph S. Passanise graduated with honors from Missouri State University with an undergraduate degree in
Political Science and Communication (1991) and a Master of Arts in Communication (1993). He continued his
education as a Rotary Scholar, obtaining a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of
London, Imperial College (1995). He received a Juris Doctor degree, with Honors, from Washburn University
School of Law (1997).
Passanise is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the Eighth Circuit Court of
Appeals, and both the Western and Eastern District Federal Courts in Missouri. He has been fortunate to
practice in many Federal and State Jurisdictions in the United States. As the Managing Partner of Wampler &
Passanise, he practices criminal defense in Federal, State, and Municipal Courts. For over 25 years, he
practiced law with Partner the late Dee Wampler and has been at the Firm for close to 35 years.
His peers have recognized Passanise as one of the Best Lawyers in America for 18 years (2007-Present) in
the practice areas of criminal defense, white-collar crimes, and DUI defense and as Springfield Lawyer of
the Year for Criminal Defense: General Practice (2021). He was Springfield Lawyer of the Year for Criminal
Defense: White Collar (2022). Wampler & Passanise has been recognized as a Best Firm by Best Lawyers
for over 15 years (2010-Present).
In 2013, Passanise was selected as a fellow by the American Board of Criminal Lawyers. (ABCL) The ABCL
selects attorneys who practice criminal law after a rigorous vetting process. Only five attorneys have been
selected in Missouri. Martindale-Hubbell has awarded Passanise the highest rating of “AV.” MACDL
recognized him for Excellence in Trial Advocacy and awarded Passanise the prestigious Charles M. Shaw
Award for excellence in trial advocacy (2013.)
The Missouri Bar selected Passanise as a President’s Award Recipient for his leadership during the
nonpartisan judicial campaign in Greene County. He received the Missouri Bar’s Lon O. Hocker Trial
Advocacy Award in 2002. The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association honored Passanise with the 2008
President’s Award for extraordinary service. In 2023, Missouri Lawyers recognized him as a Firm Leader.
Passanise has been selected as a Super Lawyer by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine for 19 years.
(2006-Present). He is a Top 100 Trial Lawyer with National Trial Lawyers (2007-Present).
Passanise is a Past President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2005-2006) and a
frequent speaker at Missouri Bar and MACDL conferences. He has been chosen as a member by the National
College of DUI Defense (2004-Present), Sustaining Member (2021), and State Delegate (2024). Has published
articles on a variety of topics over the years.
Passanise received Appointments from Governor Mike Parson to the Missouri Tourism Commission (2020)
and the Senate Redistricting Commission (2021.) The Springfield Business Journal selected him as one of the
publication’s 12 to Know in 2022 and recognized him as a Trusted Advisor in 2022. He was in the
publication’s 2005 Class of 40 Under 40. Missouri State University awarded Passanise its Bear of Distinction
Award in 2024 which recognizes outstanding alumni.
