Gregory Allen Willis and the Constitutional Battle Over DUI Law in Georgia

Background and Education

Questions about constitutional limits often arise when enforcement practices are tested in court, and in this matter, DUI law in Georgia has been shaped by those challenges over time. Gregory Allen Willis has been closely involved in that process through his work in appellate litigation and DUI defense. As an American attorney, he has focused on examining whether the procedures used in DUI prosecutions meet constitutional standards. His efforts have contributed to how courts interpret chemical testing, implied consent, and the rights of individuals accused of impaired driving.

Gregory Allen Willis earned his Juris Doctor in 1996 from the University of Georgia School of Law. In addition to his formal education, Willis invested significant time in understanding the scientific side 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 also certified to operate the Intoxilyzer 5000, a breath testing device that was formerly used by law enforcement in Georgia. This technical knowledge has allowed him to assess the reliability of scientific evidence presented in court.

After being admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, Willis developed a practice focused on DUI defense, with particular attention to appellate advocacy and constitutional litigation. His work often involves reviewing how laws are applied in DUI cases and whether those applications meet constitutional requirements. By raising questions about implied consent warnings, testing procedures, and evidentiary standards, he has worked to clarify the legal boundaries within which DUI prosecutions must operate.

Willis is associated with the Willis Law Firm, a Georgia-based criminal defense practice that concentrates on DUI cases. Through this firm, he has handled matters involving breath testing, blood analysis, urine testing, and field sobriety procedures. His approach combines legal analysis with a strong understanding of forensic science, allowing him to examine both the legal and technical aspects of each case.

Legal Career and Contributions

A defining moment in his career came in 2019 when he argued Elliott v. State before the Georgia Supreme Court. In that case, the Court ruled that Georgia’s implied consent notice, as written at the time, was unconstitutional. This decision excluded breath-test refusal evidence and affected the admissibility of breath-test results across the state. The ruling attracted attention within the legal community and marked an important development in the interpretation of DUI law in Georgia.

The impact of that decision continued in January 2022 when the Georgia Supreme Court extended the same constitutional reasoning to urine testing. This extension clarified additional requirements governing chemical evidence in DUI cases and reinforced the importance of constitutional protections in enforcement procedures. These rulings demonstrated how appellate litigation can influence the direction of legal standards.

Over the course of 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 work in these courts reflects a consistent focus on addressing complex legal issues and contributing to the development of precedent.

At one stage in his career, Willis was involved in a matter that highlighted the challenges faced by defense attorneys. In the case 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. As a result, he was held in contempt of court and briefly jailed. The incident drew attention within the legal community and illustrated the difficult decisions that can arise in the course of representation.

Following the events of 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 also received the BadAss Lawyer Award from the DUI Defense Lawyers Association for the same matter, reflecting recognition 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 contributions have been recognized through a range of professional 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, as well as 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 frequently speaks at national and regional conferences on DUI appeals and forensic evidence. From 1999 through 2025, he has presented programs 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 sustained advocacy and detailed analysis, Gregory Allen Willis has contributed to the constitutional development of DUI law in Georgia.