Biography of Joseph S. Passanise
Joseph S. Passanise graduated from Missouri State University with a double major and honors in Political Science and Communication (1991), with honors obtaining a Master's of Arts degree in Communication (1993), and a Master's degree in Business Administration from the University of London, Imperial College (1995) as a Rotary Scholar. He obtained his Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University School of Law (1997) with Dean's honors.
Joe Passanise has been employed with Dee Wampler, a prominent Criminal defense attorney for close to twenty years, starting out as an investigator, paralegal, law clerk, associate and becoming partner in 2004. He has participated in a large number of high profile criminal jury and bench trials and holds many professional memberships and associations. Joe is licensed to practice in Missouri and in federal court, the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. He frequently lectures at Missouri Bar and Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyer seminars.
Joe was awarded the Lon O. Hocker Award (2002) by the Missouri Bar Foundation. The Lon O. Hocker Award is given annually to an outstanding young trial attorney. He has been recognized by Missouri Lawyer's Weekly as one of the top five Up and Coming Lawyers for the State of Missouri (November 2003) and was a finalist for Lawyer of the Year (2008). Over the years Passanise has been recognized by his peers as "Best Lawyer", a "Super Lawyer" in Missouri, "Who's Who" in American Law, and was selected by National College of DUI Defense as a general member. He is the past President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and has served on the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association Board of Directors.
While an undergraduate, Joe was appointed by John Ashcroft, and served close to four years on the Board of Regents at Missouri State University. Since graduation, Passanise continues to stay active with the University community by teaching per course faculty at Missouri State University in the communication department teaching public speaking and legal communication. He also serves as Province President for Phi Delta Theta working with college chapters in Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Joe is married to Jennifer Steffes Passanise, a family Nurse Practioner. They have two beautiful children, Bella and Samuel along with their labs Josie and Allibi.
LEGAL EDUCATION:
Washburn University, School of Law
Topeka, KS
Juris Doctor, May, 1997
Deans Honors (Graduated top 1/3 of class)
G.P.A. 3.0
Honors:
The Order of Barristers (1997)
Moot Court, Secretary (1996-1997)
Inns of Court, Topeka Inn (1996-1997)
Henry K. Allen Law Fellowship (1996-1997)
Phi Delta Phi (1994-1997)
Who's Who: American Law Students (1995 - 1997)
Corpus Juris Secundum Award (Criminal Law, 1995)
GRADUATE EDUCATION:
University of Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
PH.D. Candidate, Legal Communication
Admitted into Program (Fall 2003)
University of London - Imperial College
London, England, (Rotary Scholar)
Master of Business Administration, October, 1995
Strategic Management Specialization
No G.P.A. assigned under British system
Southwest Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
Master of Arts, May, 1993
Communications
G.P.A. 3.8
UNDERGRADUATE EDUCATION:
Southwest Missouri State University
Springfield, Missouri
Bachelor of Science, December, 1991
Political Science, American Studies Emphasis, and Organizational
Communications G.P.A. 3.6
Activities:
Southwest Missouri State University Board of Regents,
Student Regent (1989-1992)
Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, Secretary and Scholarship Chairman
(1989-1990)
Honors:
Omicron Delta Kappa Honorary Fraternity, Leadership and
Service (1991)
Board of Regents Scholarship for Maintaining 3.5 G.P.A.
Awarded International Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship, Missouri
(1993-1994)
Golden Key Honor Society (1991)
United States Gold Congressional Award (1990)
LEGAL EXPERIENCE:
MARCH 2003 TO PRESENT
Law Offices of Dee Wampler (AV Rated Law Firm)
Springfield, MO (Criminal Law)
Attorney (Associate) (BV Rated Attorney)
Handle criminal cases in federal, state, and municipal court
Jury trial and Bench trial experience
OCTOBER 1997 TO MARCH 2003
Wampler, Wampler, and Catt Law Firm, (AV Rated Law Firm)
Springfield, MO (Felony Criminal Law)
Attorney (Associate) (BV Rated Attorney)
Handle criminal cases in federal, state, and municipal court
Jury trial and bench trial experience
JANUARY 2000 TO PRESENT
Special Prosecutor, Greene County, Missouri
Prosecute misdemeanor and felony cases
AUGUST 1989 TO 1997
Wampler, Wampler, and Catt Law Firm, Springfield, MO (Felony
Criminal Law)
Law Clerk / Legal Investigator
Duties Include: Interview clients, motion and brief writing,
investigation of cases, interaction with government offices
and assist in trial.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Missouri Bar
Criminal Law Committee (1999-2000)
Criminal Law Legislative Review Subcommittee (1999-2000)
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Vice President (2004-Present)
Secretary (2003 to 2004)
Treasurer (2002-2003)
Board Member (1999-2002)
Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association
Board of Directors (2003-2005)
Criminal Law Committee, Chairman (1999 - 2002)
Historical Committee (1999-2000, 2003-Present)
Licensed in Supreme Court of the United States
Licensed in the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals
Licensed in Federal Court, Western District-Missouri
Phi Delta Phi (1997- Present)
HONORS:
Named one of the Top Five Up and Coming Lawyers, Missouri
Lawyer's Weekly, (November 2003)
Lon O. Hocker Award, Missouri Bar (2002)
Outstanding Alumni Award for Phi Delta Theta Missouri Epsilon
(1999, 2000, 2002)
National Registry of Who=s Who (2001)
Leadership Springfield, Class XIV (1998-1999)
Springfield Magazine A99 Up - and - Comers To Watch In 99"
Outstanding Young Men of America (1998)
National Nominating Committee (1998)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:
Target Board
Phi Delta Theta
Province President (2001-Present)
Phi Delta Theta Educational Foundation
President (1998-Present)
Vice President (1997-1998)
Young Republicans (1997-Present)
Soccer Coach, Lakes County (1997-1999)
SEMINARS ATTENDED:
"MACDL Spring Seminar"
St. Louis, Missouri (April 2004)
"MACDL Fall Seminar"- Sex, Lies, and Video Tape-
Defending Sexual Abuse Cases
Kansas City, Missouri (October 2003)
Defending the Accused Driver@
Kansas City/ St. Louis, Missouri (June 2003)
MACDL Spring Seminar@
St. Louis, Missouri (April 2003)
MACDL Fall Seminar@
St. Louis, Missouri (October 2002)
DWI Institute@
Columbia, Missouri (May 2002)
MACDL Spring Seminar@
Kansas City, Missouri (April 2002)
MACDL Fall Seminar@
Kansas City, Missouri (October 2001)
Murder in Minneapolis@
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Minneapolis, Minnesota (2001)
Criminal Law@ Fall Criminal Practice
Lake of the Ozarks (November 2000)
Criminal Law@ Fall Criminal Practice
Columbia, MO (November 1999)
DWI Defense Institute@
Lake of the Ozarks, MO (May, 1999)
Cross-Examination: How to Get What You Need@
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Denver, Colorado (August, 1998)
Getting Tough on DWI: The Defense@
DWI Defense Institute
St. Louis, Missouri (June 1998)
Defending Criminal Cases 1998@
The Missouri Bar (April 1998)
TEACHING EXPERIENCE:
JANUARY 1998 TO PRESENT
Southwest Missouri State University
Per Course Faculty
Introduction to Public Speaking in Communication Department
JANUARY - MAY 2001
Southwest Missouri State University
Per Course Faculty
Criminal Law and Procedure Class
SEMINAR TEACHING:
Dazed, Confused, With Little Direction: Defending the Drugged
Driver@
Missouri Bar Seminar (June 2003)
The Next Big Thing - DRE@
Judicial Seminar- Fall Seminar (August 2002)
MACDL- Spring Seminar (April 2002)
MACDL - Fall Seminar, (October 2001)
Missouri Bar Seminar (April 2002)
6th Annual Missouri Criminal Law Institute- Anatomy of a Felony
DWI Trial and Mock DWI Jury Trial- Defense Counsel (May/ August
2002)
Officer Do You Want Me to Walk This Invisible Line or That
One@
MACDL / MO Bar Fall Criminal Practice, (November 1999)
Organization of Law Enforcement Seminar (March, 1999)
Lecture at Southwest Missouri State University and Drury College,
(1998-Present)
PUBLISHED ARTICLES:
Use of Drug Profiles and Detection Techniques by Law Enforcement
Co-Author with Dee Wampler for Missouri Bar Journal (Sept.
/ Oct. 1995)
Y---Urine or You're Out - Drug Testing Student Athletes
in High School
Co-author with Dee Wampler for teacher publications (Summer,
1995)
