Inside the Appellate Career of Gregory Allen Willis, A Leading Voice in DUI Defense

Careful appellate work often defines how legal principles are understood long after a trial has ended. Gregory Allen Willis has built his career around that responsibility, focusing on reviewing and refining DUI law through higher courts. As an American attorney specializing in DUI defense and constitutional litigation, he has developed a reputation for examining the legal and scientific foundations of cases that go beyond the trial level. His work reflects a consistent effort to ensure that enforcement practices align with constitutional standards.
Gregory Allen Willis was born on July 9, 1970, in Richmond, Virginia. He began his academic journey at the University of Virginia, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce in 1992. His undergraduate studies emphasized analytical thinking and structured evaluation. He later attended the University of Georgia School of Law and earned his Juris Doctor in 1996. These early experiences shaped his approach to legal analysis and prepared him for the demands of appellate advocacy.
A key element of Willis’s professional development is his attention to the scientific aspects of DUI enforcement. He completed specialized training in standardized field sobriety testing, chemical breath testing, drug recognition evaluation, forensic blood testing, forensic urine testing, and gas chromatography. He is certified to operate the Intoxilyzer 5000, a breath testing device formerly used by law enforcement in Georgia. This technical knowledge allows him to assess the reliability of evidence and to identify issues that may not be apparent without a scientific background.
After being admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, Willis established a practice focused on DUI defense, with a strong emphasis on appellate litigation. His work often centers on constitutional questions that arise from DUI prosecutions, including the validity of implied consent warnings and the procedures used to obtain chemical evidence. By concentrating on appeals, he has addressed legal issues that influence not only individual cases but also broader standards applied by courts.
Willis is associated with the Willis Law Firm, a Georgia-based criminal defense practice that concentrates on DUI cases. Within this setting, he has handled matters involving breath testing, blood analysis, urine testing, and field sobriety procedures. His approach strikes a balance between legal reasoning and technical understanding, enabling him to present arguments that address both the legal framework and the scientific evidence.
One of the most significant developments in his appellate career occurred in 2019 when he argued Elliott v. State before the Georgia Supreme Court. The Court ruled that Georgia’s implied consent notice, as written at that time, was unconstitutional. This decision led to the exclusion of breath-test refusal evidence and had a broad impact on the admissibility of breath-test results across the state. The case was widely discussed within legal circles and marked an important moment in the development of DUI law.
The principles established in Elliott were later extended. In January 2022, the Georgia Supreme Court applied similar constitutional reasoning to urine testing, further clarifying the standards governing chemical evidence in DUI prosecutions. These decisions highlighted the importance of appellate review in shaping legal doctrine and reinforced the requirement that enforcement practices must comply with constitutional protections.
Throughout his career, Willis has been involved in more than 110 published appellate decisions at both the state and national levels. He has argued cases before the Georgia Supreme Court, the Georgia Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of the United States. His appellate record reflects a sustained commitment to addressing complex legal issues and contributing to the development of precedent.
At one point in his career, Willis faced a situation that brought attention to the role of defense counsel in protecting client rights. In the matter known as In re Willis, he declined to proceed with a DUI trial after a motion for continuance was denied, believing that doing so would not serve his client’s interests. This decision resulted in a finding of contempt of court and a brief period of incarceration. The incident was widely noted in the legal community and underscored the challenges that can arise in advocacy.
Following In re Willis, Willis received recognition from professional organizations for his actions. The Samurai Lawyer Award was presented to him by the Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers’ Group in connection with that case and for going to jail in defense of his client. He was also honored with the BadAss Lawyer Award from the DUI Defense Lawyers Association for the same matter, reflecting acknowledgment of his commitment to client advocacy.
Willis has remained active in professional education and legal organizations throughout his career. He completed advanced training through the National College of DUI Defense’s Mastering Scientific Evidence program. His affiliations include the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, the National DUI Defense Lawyers Association, the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the National College of DUI Defense, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Atlanta Bar Association, the North Fulton Bar Association, the National Trial Lawyers, and the Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers Network.
His work has been recognized through numerous honors. Willis has been selected as a Super Lawyers honoree in DUI defense from 2014 through 2026. He has received Georgia President’s Awards from the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers in 2023 and 2025, Clients’ Choice Awards from Avvo in 2015 and 2025, and the Lee Sexton Strike Force Soldier Award in 2024. Additional recognition includes being named Atlanta’s Best Defense Law Firm from 2023 through 2025 and receiving Lawyer of the Year and Appellate Lawyer of the Year honors from the Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers Group. He also holds a 10.0 Superb rating from Avvo.
In addition to his legal practice, Willis is a frequent speaker at national and regional conferences. From 1999 through 2025, he has presented on DUI appeals and forensic evidence for organizations such as the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, the Defense of Drinking Drivers Institute, and ICLE Georgia. His appellate work and constitutional challenges have been discussed in legal publications and general news outlets, particularly following decisions of the Georgia Supreme Court. Through consistent appellate advocacy and a focus on constitutional principles, Gregory Allen Willis has established himself as a leading voice in DUI defense.