SPRINGFIELD, Mo.—Springfield criminal defense attorneys Joseph S. Passanise and Thomas D. Carver of Wampler & Passanise have been recognized byBest Lawyers in America, 2027 Ed. Based entirely on peer review, this is the 33rdyearBest Lawyershas published its prestigious list of top American attorneys.
Passanise, the firm’s Managing Partner, was named Lawyer of the Year for Criminal Defense: General Practice in Springfield. He was also recognized for professional excellence in Criminal Defense: White-Collar and DUI/DWI Defense.Best Lawyershas recognized him for 19 years.
This is the second consecutive year Passanise has been recognized as Lawyer of the Year. In 2026, he was recognized for Criminal Defense: White Collar. He has been selected by his peers as the Lawyer of the Year seven times over his career. In 2013, he was chosen as a fellow by the American Board of Criminal Lawyers (ABCL) and is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL). Passanise is a State Delegate to the National College of DUI Defense (NCDD), and Martindale-AVVO awards him its highest rating, AV. He is a past President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL). He received the Bernie Edelman Award for Mentoring Lawyers in 2026, and the distinguished Charles M. Shaw Award for Excellence in Trial Advocacy in 2013.
Passanise was recognized in 2024 by Missouri State University with the prestigious Bear of Distinction Alumni Award and in 2025 by the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities with the Dean’s Alumni Award. In 2026, he received the Bernie Edelman Award from MACDL, recognizing his mentoring and sharing of expertise with others to ensure the highest professional standards.
Carver, Of Counsel, was recognized for professional excellence in Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White Collar. He has been recognized byBest Lawyersfor 20 years, including being named Lawyer of the Year on five occasions. In 2025, Carver was recognized with an ICON Award by Missouri Lawyers Media, celebrating Distinguished Leadership in Law.
Carver was awarded the Bernard Edelman Tradition Award for mentoring young lawyers interested in criminal defense in 2019. Carver is a past President of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL) and serves on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association and its Foundation. Martindale-AVVO awards him its highest rating, AV.
About Wampler & Passanise
Wampler & Passanise is one of the Midwest’s leading criminal defense firms, led by Managing Partner Joseph S. Passanise and Attorneys Thomas Carver and James Hayes. Visit entrapped.com for more.
