Morris Hugh Wiltshire Jr.

My son is a UGA student and was in trouble for DUI and a few other charges in Athens last fall. After bonding him out of jail, my husband and I really had no idea who to contact because we live in South Georgia and didn’t have any contacts in Athens. We had never had to meet with a lawyer before for ...anything besides getting our wills done and I was very nervous. My son had told us he had made a big mistake and admitted his mistakes to the police. I was so nervous and worried for my son, especially for how this would affect his future. I wasn’t sure what a lawyer could even do for us, but knew we needed one badly. We made appointments with several defense attorneys in Athens and our first appointment was with Mr. Wiltshire. Even though we were meeting with Mr. Wiltshire under bad circumstances, we felt so comfortable and at ease with him. He explained the court process and exactly what he could do for us. He even made this nervous mother laugh several times during our appointment. We told Mr. Wiltshire that we would be meeting with other lawyers because this was brand new territory for us, and surprisingly he encouraged us to do so! Mr. Wiltshire told us to look him up online, ask others about him, and call him if we needed him. We met with two other lawyers that day and my husband, son, and I were all in agreement that Mr. Wiltshire was the man for us. One of the things that impressed us the most was that he was a former prosecutor and used to be in charge of the office that would be prosecuting our son. We hired him the next day and then began the court process that lasted many months. I drove up to Athens for my son’s first time in court and again knew that we had made the best choice while watching Mr. Wiltshire in court. He knows everyone, and everyone knows him! He has a very professional and commanding presence and was obviously respected by all. My son was one of three clients Mr. Wiltshire was representing just that morning! He kept us informed as the months went by through email and on the phone. He was always honest and straightforward and updated us whenever there was new information to be given. In the end, he was able to get a much better outcome than we had any right to expect. We are so grateful to Mr. Wiltshire for everything he did on our son’s behalf and have already recommended him to a friend. Thank you Mr. Wiltshire!

Mr. Wiltshire went above and beyond all of my expectations. I am 21 years old and was arrested for DUI even though I blew under the legal limit. After looking around at several lawyers in the Athens area, I came across Mr. Wiltshire and instantly felt the most confident in his approach to my case. Ot...her lawyers felt that the best they could do was getting my charge reduced, but Mr. Wiltshire got my case completely dismissed before my court date. Other lawyers told me that my case would probably have to go to trial, but Mr. Wiltshire took care of everything and I never had to appear in court. He seems to know almost everyone in the Athens court system and knew just what to do and say to get me the best possible resolution. Not only did he succeed in getting all charges dropped, but he helped me keep this incident from affecting my personal and work life by going out of his way to make several calls to make sure my life stayed as normal as possible. He is always available to help and I know that I can call on him in the future if I ever need anything. Mr. Wiltshire is absolutely the best lawyer I could have possibly asked for and I recommend him to anyone and everyone!

Most lawyers claim to be "trial lawyers". Few actually feel comfortable in front of a jury. My son was charged with DUI in Athens in 2011. The case was not perfect from the prosecution perspective and there were issues upon which a "reasonable doubt" defense was available. I am in the business of... defending large insurance companies and our clients in civil litigation. I knew who to ask about criminal litigators and I trusted my advice. My son is sure glad we were referred to Mo Wiltshire. The jury was selected on a Monday. The trial was on the following Friday. I attended the trial and watched as every word was said - we clearly had the State "out-lawyered". An attorney's job is to defend his client to the fullest of his abilities using all the legal and factual defenses available. That is just half of it. In front of a jury, an attorney must be able to call upon "trial skills" including being likeable to the jury. If the jury hates your lawyer, you are sunk. If the jury likes your lawyer, you are in a lot better shape. When your lawyer weaves the story together during the trial and wraps it up in a closing argument where every juror is glued to each word he says, you know you hired the right guy. Our case was clearly one that could have been lost. The difference was the attorney and it was a true work of art. I have taken the time to write this not because I ever expect to need Mr. Wiltshire again or even expect to see him again (unless he will let me buy him a beer sometime). I write this because someone might read this and realize that a young man or woman charged with a crime or DUI truly has a ton to lose if convicted. There are defenses to utilize and you are not "sunk" just because you are charged. The prosecutor does not negotiate or "plea down" many criminal cases like ours. We had one choice - try the case or take what the State offered. Not much of a choice actually because if we lost at trial, the punishment wasn't much worse than the plea. Hire the right lawyer. Hire the lawyer who does trial work day in and day out and does not just claim to do it. Ask when was the last time you took a case like this to a jury? What is your track record in the last 3 - 5 years in trial? Then check it out. Not everyone will know who to call like I did to get the referral for the best DUI defense trial lawyer in Athens and really, anywhere around this State. My son has turned his life around and he does not have a DUI conviction on his record. He is 22 and a DUI harnessed around your neck will follow you. The jury was deliberating for 15 minutes before the clerk called us back in for the verdict. That is always a good sign for the defense but when it is your son, you are still sweating (I know). As for what it cost, I think you will find that it will be very reasonable. There was no blustering from Mo about needing more money than he forecast. We paid exactly what he asked and it was money well spent. I hire lawyers on civil cases everyday that bill insurance companies tons more than he billed me. I know a bargain. I would recommend him over any attorney for criminal / DUI defense work and especially in Athens. You cannot overestimate the value of being known to the legal community and liked in the courtroom where your practice. Everyone spoke to Mo - from the clerk to the Judge, to the Sheriff at the security check in. They all called him Mo. They asked about his kids and his wife. I can tell you - all of that matters and if your lawyer is a jerk, all of those people know it and so will the jury.

Mr. Wiltshire represented me a year ago for a DUI in Athens. With the initial consultation, which was over the phone, he was able to convince me that he would be able to help me. After he received his money I rarely heard from him. We had set up multiple meetings which he always moved, and would inst...ead set up conference calls in which he would never call in. He was impossible to get ahold, so much so that I drove half way back to Athens for the initial trail date only to receive a phone call from him the day before telling me that he filed a continuance. He has no problem taking your money, but seems to have a problem keeping you informed regarding your trial.