Our Team

Joseph S. Passanise

Managing Partner

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), and his Juris Doctor degree, with Honors, from Washburn University School of Law (1997), where he was also named to the Order of Barristers. Passanise is licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

He is also licensed in Missouri’s Western and Eastern District Federal Courts and has been fortunate to practice in multiple Federal and State Jurisdictions across 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 his late Partner Dee Wampler and has been at the Firm for over 35 years, handling thousands cases. Many of them high profile, garnering national and international media attention. His peers 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. He was chosen as Springfield Lawyer of the Year for Criminal Defense: White Collar (2026). He has received Lawyer of the Year recognition a total of six times over his career. Wampler & Passanise has been recognized as a Best Firm by Best Lawyers for over 15 years (2010-Present). He has also been selected as a Super Lawyer by Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers Magazine for over 19 years. (2006-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 using a rigorous vetting process. Very few criminal defense attorneys have been selected from Missouri. Passanise is a Lifetime Member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL). He is a Past President of MACDL (2004-2005). He was recognized by his peers for Excellence in Trial Advocacy with the prestigious Charles M. Shaw Award (2013).

The Missouri Bar awarded Passanise the President’s Award for his leadership during the adoption of the nonpartisan Court Plan in Greene County (2008). He received the Missouri Bar’s Lon O. Hocker Trial Advocacy Award (2002). The Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (SMBA) awarded Passanise the President’s Award for extraordinary service (2008) for his work on the nonpartisan court plan. Passanise has served on the Board of Directors for the SMBA, is a Sustaining Member, and has been the Chair of the Criminal Law Committee. He is a frequent speaker at Missouri Bar CLE and MACDL conferences and has authored articles on criminal law topics in numerous legal publications. Martindale-AVVO has recognized Passanise with its highest rating of AV for over 16 years. He is a National Trial Lawyers Top 100 (2007 Present) and a member of the National College of DUI Defense (2004-Present). He became an NCDD Sustaining Member in 2021 and was chosen to be a State Delegate in 2024. In 2022, the Springfield Business Journal (SBJ) selected Passanise as one its 12 to Know and a Trusted Advisor. Missouri Lawyers Media recognized him in 2023 as a Firm Leader. In 2005, he was included in the SBJ’s Class of 40 Under 40. In 2024, Missouri State University recognized him with the Bear of Distinction Award, and in 2025, he was awarded the Dean’s Alumni Award by the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Passanise has been a National Officer for Phi Delta Theta for over 25 years. He is a member of the United States Supreme Court and Missouri Supreme Court Historical Societies. Passanise has received Appointments from Missouri’s Governor to the State’s Tourism Commission (2020) and the Senate Redistricting Commission (2011, 2021). He has been involved in numerous political campaigns at the National and State levels. He maintains a Class D Soccer License and coaches high-school teams for Rush Soccer Club.

James R. Hayes

Attorney at Law

James R. Hayes joined Wampler & Passanise in 2025, bringing nearly two decades of criminal defense experience to the team. Known for his thorough research and analytical approach, James is a vital part of the firm’s mission to provide the best in criminal legal representation to individuals facing the most serious criminal charges. James is licensed in Missouri and before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri. He has litigated appeals before the Missouri Court of Appeals, the Missouri Supreme Court, and the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals. James has served as a Special Public Defender in high-stakes cases, including complex murder trials, where his work on suppression motions and Constitutional defense has been instrumental in protecting the rights of the accused. Hayes earned his undergraduate degree from Evangel University (2001) and his law degree from the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Law (2008). During law school, he distinguished himself as a leader and advocate, serving as President of the Student Bar Association and contributing to the school’s renowned advocacy programs, including the National Mock Trial Team and the Moot Court Executive Board. After Law School, Hayes received the Terry T. Thomas Trial Practice Achievement Award and was named to the Order of Barristers for excellence in advocacy.

For nearly two decades, he worked to build a reputation as a fierce advocate in criminal defense, fighting tirelessly to achieve the best possible outcomes for clients. From wrongful convictions to life-altering charges, James brings his expertise to cases ranging from homicide, robbery, and kidnapping to drug trafficking, sex crimes, and assault, as well as Federal and state appellate cases. Hayes was selected to serve as a Criminal Justice Act Attorney, a process that identifies attorneys qualified to accept Federal appointments in criminal cases. On that panel, he was chosen to serve as a Mentor Attorney, guiding less experienced and potential panel members. Deeply rooted in the Ozarks, James is an active member of the Springfield Metropolitan Bar Association (SMBA) and the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL). He also serves as an adult scout leader in Scouting America Troop 235 and a Cubmaster and Den Leader for Pack 221. James was chosen by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools (SPS) to serve as an Ambassador in the program’s second class, educating on District programs and services. He has also trained volunteer advocates for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), a national organization of trained volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children in the court system. James Hayes combines his rigorous academic training and passion for trial work, ensuring a client’s defense is built on excellence and integrity.