Courtrooms rarely change the direction of law through a single argument, yet over time, consistent appellate advocacy can reshape how statutes are interpreted and enforced. Gregory Allen Willis has spent his career working within this space, where constitutional limits, scientific evidence, and procedural fairness intersect. As an American attorney focused on DUI defense and appellate litigation, Willis has influenced how DUI prosecutions are examined, challenged, and ultimately defined under Georgia law.
Gregory Allen Willis was born on July 9, 1970, in Richmond, Virginia. His early academic path reflected a strong analytical foundation. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Virginia in 1992, where he developed skills in structured thinking and evaluation. He later attended the University of Georgia School of Law and received his Juris Doctor in 1996. These years shaped his interest in legal reasoning and prepared him for a career that would rely heavily on precision and detailed analysis.
Unlike many attorneys who rely solely on legal precedent, Willis pursued extensive training in the scientific aspects of DUI enforcement. His education includes instruction 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 formerly used by law enforcement in Georgia. This scientific background allowed Willis to critically assess evidence that is often treated as unquestionable in DUI prosecutions.
After being admitted to the State Bar of Georgia, Willis built a legal practice centered on DUI defense, with a strong emphasis on appellate advocacy and constitutional litigation. From the outset, his work focused on examining whether DUI procedures complied with constitutional requirements. He challenged implied consent notices, questioned forensic testing methods, and scrutinized how scientific evidence was presented and relied upon in court. This approach distinguished his practice and positioned him as a leading voice in appellate DUI defense.
Willis is associated with the Willis Law Firm, a Georgia based criminal defense firm concentrating on DUI cases. Through this firm, he has handled cases involving breath, blood, and urine testing, as well as challenges to field sobriety testing procedures. His work consistently addresses the reliability, administration, and scientific foundation of these tests, with the goal of ensuring that legal standards are properly applied.
One of the most significant moments in Willis’s career occurred in 2019 with the Georgia Supreme Court decision in Elliott v. State. Willis successfully argued that Georgia’s implied consent notice, as written at the time, was unconstitutional. The Court agreed, ruling that breath test refusal evidence could not be admitted under the existing notice. This decision had widespread effects across the state, impacting thousands of DUI cases and prompting substantial discussion within the legal community.
The influence of Elliott did not end there. In January 2022, the Georgia Supreme Court extended the same constitutional reasoning to urine testing. This decision further clarified the legal limits governing chemical testing in DUI prosecutions and reinforced the importance of informed consent under constitutional law. Together, these rulings reshaped how DUI evidence is evaluated in Georgia courts.
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 work reflects a sustained commitment to legal development rather than isolated outcomes, contributing to long term changes in DUI jurisprudence.
Willis has also been involved in matters concerning professional conduct. In In re Willis, a case decided by the Georgia Court of Appeals, he was held in contempt of court and briefly jailed after refusing to proceed with a DUI trial when a motion for continuance was denied. His refusal was rooted in his defense of his client’s interests. Following this incident, the DUI Defense Lawyers Association recognized his actions by awarding him the BadAss Lawyer Award and the Samurai Lawyer Award for his dedication to client advocacy.
Beyond litigation, Willis has remained deeply involved in legal education and professional organizations. He has completed advanced programs such as the National College of DUI Defense’s Mastering Scientific Evidence course. His professional affiliations include the DUI Defense Lawyers Association, National DUI Defense Lawyers Association, Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, National College of DUI Defense, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Atlanta Bar Association, North Fulton Bar Association, National Trial Lawyers, and the Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers Network.
Willis’s work has been widely recognized through professional honors. He has been selected as a Super Lawyers honoree in DUI defense from 2014 through 2026. His awards include Georgia President’s Awards from the Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Clients’ Choice Awards from Avvo, the Lee Sexton Strike Force Soldier Award, and recognition as Atlanta’s Best Defense Law Firm. He has also received Lawyer of the Year and Appellate Lawyer of the Year honors from the Georgia Defense of Drinking Drivers Group and 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 including 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 and general news outlets, particularly following decisions of the Georgia Supreme Court. Through sustained advocacy and careful legal analysis, Gregory Allen Willis has played a central role in redefining the legal boundaries of DUI prosecutions.
Stay in touch to get more updates & news on Building Business News!