Morris Wiltshire - Watkinsville, GA

MORRIS H. WILTSHIRE, JR. “Mo” is a Partner with Prior, Daniel & Wiltshire, LLC.

Former prosecutor Mo Wiltshire is widely recognized as one of the top trial lawyers in Georgia. Mo is one of the very few lawyers in Georgia to have earned the rating “Superb” scoring a perfect “10.0/10.0″ by AVVO.com, the world’s largest online legal directory and attorney rating and review organization, in both Criminal Defense and DUI Defense. In the State of Georgia less than 5% of lawyers have earned these top ratings in both Criminal Defense and DUI Defense. As a former felony prosecutor and a former DUI prosecutor Mo Wiltshire possesses a breadth and depth of experience that is very difficult to find elsewhere.

Mo Wiltshire has been formally recognized by numerous national organizations for outstanding achievement and overall excellence as a trial attorney and advocate for his clients.

Mo Wiltshire is rated as possessing “Very High Ethical Standards” by Martindale-Hubbell the peer review attorney ethics rating guide. Mo holds a ranking as a “Top 10 Defense Attorney” in the State of Georgia by The National Academy of Criminal Defense Attorneys. Mo was also selected as one of the “Top 100 Criminal Defense Lawyers” in the State of Georgia by The American Society of Legal Advocates and as a “Top 100 Trial Lawyer” in the area of Criminal Defense by the National Trial Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers group. Mo has also been recognized as one of the top DUI Defense Attorneys in the state by the National Advocacy for DUI Defense.

Mo graduated cum laude from Millsaps College in Jackson, MS in 1991 and received his J.D. degree from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1994. His law school honors include being named to the Order of Barristers. Mo was admitted to the Georgia Bar in 1994 and began his legal career serving as an Assistant District Attorney in Cherokee and Forsyth counties in the North Metro Atlanta area. After several years as a prosecutor, he returned to Athens and began the private practice of law focusing on civil and criminal cases requiring litigation. After roughly a decade of successful law practice, Mo Wiltshire was selected as the Republican Party Nominee for District Attorney for Athens-Clarke and Oconee County in 2004. Mo was endorsed by the Police Benevolent Association of Georgia, Inc., the Athens-Banner Herald, and the Athens Daily News during the election. Mo was appointed by the Governor as Solicitor-General for Athens-Clarke County and served in that post until 2007.

• Solicitor-General for Athens (Former DUI Prosecutor)
• Assistant District Attorney (Former Felony Prosecutor)
• Special Prosecutor in Death Investigations for the Athens-Clarke County Coroner’s Office
• Instructor, Athens-Clarke County Police Department
• Instructor, Georgia’s G. Christy Memorial Trial Skills Clinic

As Solicitor-General he was commissioned with leading the office charged with the prosecution of DUI offenses in Athens. When his term as Solicitor-General expired he joined the law firm that became Prior, Daniel & Wiltshire and resumed the private practice of law.

Mo Wiltshire maintains a heavy focus on jury trials in this law practice including regular and extensive criminal jury trial work in courts throughout Georgia and the Southeast as well as business, insurance, and serious personal injury litigation. Mo takes to heart the guiding principle of his practice “helping good people in big trouble all over Georgia.” He is a frequent presenter for continuing legal education programs, for regional civic and fraternal organizations. Mo provides expert commentary and analysis for local and regional news media and has been featured in the Athens Banner-Herald, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Flagpole Magazine, Scout.com, WGAU, WSB and others.

He is a member of the Georgia Bar Association, The Georgia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Western Circuit Bar Association (Treasurer 2005-2006). Mo Wiltshire has served and continues to serve in many capacities in the community including as the Special Prosecutor for Athens-Clarke County Coroner’s Inquests in Death Investigations. He serves as a Volunteer Instructor for the Athens-Clarke County Police Department in the departments New Officer Investigation Courses (2000-present). He also serves as a Faculty Member for the Institute of Continuing Legal Education in the Georgia Trial Skills Clinic (1999-present). Mo is a frequent speaker for civic groups and social organizations regarding Underage Alcohol Consumption, DUI and Liability Issues, he has served with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, as a Judge for many Mock Trial and Moot Court competitions sponsored by the Georgia Bar Association, and as the lawyer’s chair of the United Way of Northeast Georgia, Doctors v. Lawyers Basketball Challenge.

Mo is married to the former Hope Vance of Athens and has two daughters, Mia and Lila. He and his family reside in Athens.