A suture passer including a shaft having an axis a first jaw mounted to the shaft in alignment with the axis, the first jaw being configured to releasably support a length of suture thereon a second jaw movably mounted to the shaft and a needle movably mounted to the shaft, the needle having a hook and being configured to reciprocate in alignment with the axis so that the hook can selectively pass by the second jaw and engage suture releasably supported on the first jaw wherein the first jaw includes a spring for selectively binding the suture to the first jaw.
