Passanise graduated with honors from Missouri State University with an undergraduate degree in Political Science and Communication (1991) and master’s degree 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) and obtained 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. Passanise has been awarded the highest rating of “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, which recognizes attorneys based on peer-review with the highest practice and ethical standards.

Joe practices criminal defense in federal, state, and municipal courts with partner Dee Wampler and associate Taylon Sumners in Springfield, Missouri, and has participated in numerous high-profile jury and bench trials. Passanise is a Past President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and is 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), the National Child Abuse Defense and Resource Center (2011-Present) and teaches Legal Communication as per-course faculty at Missouri State University.

His peers have recognized him as a Best Lawyer in america (2007-Present) in the practice areas of white collar, general criminal, and DUI defense. Wampler & Passanise Law Office has been recognized as a “Best Firm” by Best Lawyers (2011-Present). Joe has been selected as a Super Lawyer by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine, which recognizes the top 5 percent of attorneys through peer review (2006-Present). He is listed in Who’s Who in american Law (2005-Present) and named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers (2007-Present).

Passanise was awarded the Charles M. Shaw Award for excellence in trial advocacy in 2013. The Governor of Missouri appointed Joe to the Missouri Tourism Commission in 2020 and he was named Best Lawyers 2021 Springfield Criminal Defense Lawyer of the Year. Passanise is a fellow in the prestigious american Board of Criminal Defense Lawyers (ABCDL).