Former Georgia Congressman Doug Collins has joined a law firm in Clarkesville. Collins, who represented the 9th Congressional District, today announced he has joined the law firm of Oliver & Weidner LLC, where he will specialize in civil and criminal litigation.
Collins joins attorneys Jim Weidner, Bill Oliver, and retired Habersham County Superior Court Judge Bucky Woods at the firm.
“I’m thrilled to announce that I have joined Oliver & Weidner,” says Collins. “Bill and Jim have long been friends and are well respected for the service they provide to families and businesses here in our community. North Georgia will always be home for me, which is why I’m especially thankful for the opportunity to return to practicing law right here in Clarkesville.”
A native of Gainesville, Collins comes to Habersham County by way of Washington D.C. where he served in Congress from 2013 until this past January. He left D.C. following an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. Senate.
“I’m thrilled to have him with us. [Doug’s] a great guy. I’ve known him for years, for decades actually, and his integrity and honesty are unsurpassed,” Weidner tells Now Habersham. “I’m just glad to have him on board and am looking forward to practicing law with him.”
Collins served five years in the Georgia House of Representatives before he was elected to Congress. During his first term in the state legislature, he graduated from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School and established his own legal practice.
During his time in Congress, Collins served on the House Judiciary Committee. He was named Ranking Member of the Committee in 2019.
As the top Republican on the House Judiciary Committee, Collins led the defense of President Donald Trump during the House impeachment proceedings in 2019, and also served on the President’s defense team during the Senate trial in 2020.
Trump has said in the past he would like to see Collins challenge Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp in the primary election next year.
A chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, Collins has ministered to the country’s military since 2002. He completed a 2008-2009 deployment to Iraq while stationed at Balad Air Force Base. As a Lieutenant Colonel, Collins remains active in the Air Force Reserve today.
