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Law Offices of Wampler and Passanise
Springfield MO 65804
Tel: 417- 882-9300
Wampler and Passanise have been recognized by their peers as excelling in criminal defense and white collar criminal defense. Both organizations recognize attorneys based on peer review surveys that are exhausting and rigorous.
Law Offices of Dee Wampler & Joseph Passanise are supported by four full-time paralegals and three part-time support staff. Recently Wampler and Passanise hired a new associate, Adam Woody, from the Public Defenders Office.
For more information about Best Lawyers and Super Lawyers selection please contact their offices.
Criminal Law.
Dee Wampler
Dee Wampler is a Springfield, MO native with a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri School of Law-Columbia. Mr. Wampler has more than 30 years of experience in the courtroom. He served as assistant Greene County prosecutor from 1967-1970, was elected as a prosecuting attorney from 1971-1972, and has engaged in private practice since 1973 in which he specializes in felony criminal trial work. He became one of the youngest elected Prosecuting Attorneys in Greene County, Missouri.
Dee Wampler's work as a criminal trial attorney has earned him a national and international reputation. His cases have been featured on investigative television programs, including: "Saturday Night with Connie Chung," "Inside Edition," "Prime Time," and "Court TV."
EDUCATION
High School: Central and Parkview High Schools, Springfield, Missouri.
Top 15 in nation in debate competition. Winner of numerous awards in debate competition and extemporaneous speaking.
College: Drury College, 1959, Springfield, MO.
Activities: Member: Lambda Chi Alpha, Social Fraternity; Pi Kappa Delta, Honorary Speech Fraternity; Member "A" Debate Team, best win-loss ratio at Drury.
Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 1960.
Activities: Officer, Inter-Fraternity Council; Officer,
Lambda Chi Alpha.
University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 1961-2
Degree: Bachelor of Science, Public Administration.
Activities: Member "A" Debate Team, best win-loss record for 1961, 1961. Attended 20 college tournaments in Big 8, Big 10. Cited by President Elmer Ellis for EXCELLENCE IN DEBATE. AWARD OF MERIT, Stephens Oratory Contest, 1961. AWARD OF MERIT, Stephens College, 19061. AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, Debate, Stephens College, 1961. M.U. Extemporaneous Speaking Contest, 2nd Place, 1961, 1962. Member: Delta Sigma Pi, Business Fraternity, Athenaen Society.
Joseph S. Passanise
Joseph S. Passanise graduated with honors from Missouri State University with his undergraduate in Political Science and Communication (1991), and Master’s of Arts 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 his 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 practices criminal defense in federal, state, and municipal courts with partner Dee Wampler and associate Adam Woody located in Springfield, Missouri and has participated in a large number of 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) and has taught as per course faculty at Missouri State University in the Communication Department for many years.
The Missouri Bar selected Passanise as a President’s Award Recipient (2009) and a Lon O. Hocker Trial Advocacy Award recipient (2002). Missouri Lawyer’s Weekly chose him as a finalist for “Lawyer of the Year” (2008) and one of the top five “Up and Coming Lawyers” (2003). His peers have recognized him as a Best Lawyer in America (2007 – Present), a Missouri Super Lawyer (2006 – Present) by Law & Politics Magazine which recognizes the top 5% of attorneys through peer review, American Trial Lawyers Association (2007 – Present), and Who’s Who in American Law (2009). The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association President’s recently honored Passanise with the 2008 President Award in recognition for extraordinary service to the bar.
Presently, he serves on the Parenting Life Skills Board and is involved in a number of community projects. Passanise is married to Jennifer Steffes and they have two beautiful children Bella and Samuel along with two labs, Josie and Alibi.
