H. Eugene Oliver, III, Esq.
Managing Partner
Eugene Oliver is a partner at Evans Oliver, PLC who focuses his practice on criminal defense and traffic matters. Eugene also handles select domestic relations and custody/visitation cases. Eugene is committed to providing zealous advocacy and high quality representation for all of his clients. He focuses his practice on not only making the best legal arguments in court, but also on guiding you through the complex legal system and working with you to protect your interests.
Eugene is a former prosecutor who now practices criminal defense in both State and Federal Court, with extensive experience in all types of cases, ranging from violent crimes like first degree murder, rape and robbery to major drug offenses to serious financial crimes. Eugene also has extensive experience representing juveniles. Having handled thousands of cases as both a prosecutor and defense attorney, he knows the ins and outs of criminal law practice throughout Virginia. He has participated in all stages of criminal cases from pre-trial investigations to appeal and is prepared to represent your interests zealously every step of the way.
Eugene also has extensive experience handling traffic matters. He previously prosecuted thousands of traffic cases and now puts that experience to work for his clients. He routinely defends clients accused of Manslaughter, Driving Under the Influence, Driving on a Suspended License, Reckless Driving, Hit and Run, Eluding, Speeding and other traffic matters throughout the Shenandoah Valley. He has successfully received reductions and dismissals for his clients in all types of traffic cases, through both trial and negotiation.
While based in the City of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, Mr. Oliver also actively represents clients in Augusta, Shenandoah, Page, Rockbridge, Albemarle, Highland, Bath, and Alleghany counties and the cities of Staunton, Waynesboro, Charlottesville, Lexington, and Buena Vista as well as federal cases in both the United States Western District and Eastern District Courts of Virginia. Furthermore, Eugene is available to handle select matters throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia on a case by case basis.
Eugene is a recognized leader in his field throughout Virginia and the United States as he serves on the Board of Directors and is a life member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, is a Past President of the Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and serves as the Chair of the Planning Committee for the Supreme Court’s Annual Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar. For the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Eugene is the co-chair of their Public Defense Committee and a Vice-Chair responsible for planning national level CLE presentations for other lawyers. He also serves as a Trustee on the NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice, a national non-profit organization that preserves and promotes the core values of America’s justice system guaranteed by the Constitution – among them due process, freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, fair sentencing and effective assistance of counsel.
Eugene received his law degree from the George Washington University Law School and he graduated from the College of William and Mary with degrees in History and Government. Eugene was the first member of his family to graduate with a Bachelor’s and Law Degree. Originally from Richmond, Virginia, Eugene lives in the City of Harrisonburg with his wife, Cody, and their two children. He is an avid pick-up basketball player and enjoys travel and live music in his spare time.
EDUCATION
The College of William & Mary, B.A., 2005
The George Washington University Law School, J.D., 2008
COURT ADMISSIONS
Virginia State Bar, 2008
District of Columbia Bar, 2012
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 2012
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia, 2012
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 2012
Supreme Court of the Unites States, 2019
MEMBERSHIPS
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Board of Directors, 2022 - Present
Co-Chair, Public Defense Committee, 2023-Present
Vice Chair for Quarterly Meetings, CLE Institute, 2023-Present
Member of Membership, Diversity, and Criminalization of Voting Rights Committees and Task Force on Police Accountability
NACDL Foundation for Criminal Justice
Trustee, 2024-Present
Virginia Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
President, 2021
President-Elect, 2020
Vice President, 2019
Board of Directors, 2018-2022
Leroy R. Hassell, Sr. Indigent Criminal Defense Seminar Planning Committee, 2023-Present
Chair, 2024-Present
Vice Chair, 2024
Virginia Trial Lawyers Association
PUBLISHED DECISIONS
McMahon v. Wirick, 762 S.E.2d 781 (Va., 2014)
Holmes v. Commonwealth, 880 S.E.2d 17 (Va. Ct. App. 2022)
United States v. Daniels, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 184743 (W.D. Va., 2023)
CLE and Other Speaking Presentations
“Juveniles ARE Different: What You Need to Know When Defending a Kid Charged With Charged With a Crime of Violence,” 2025 Albert J. Kreiger Annual Meeting of NACDL, July 2025, Minneapolis, MN
“Starting Smart: Lessons from Launching Our Own Practice,” Panelist, NACDL’s Engage & Exchange Video Discussion Series, January 2025
“Unreasonable Advocacy: Ethical and Client Focused Sentencing in Drug Cases,” NACDL’s 17th Annual Seminar: Defending Modern Drug Cases, September 2024, Las Vegas, NV
“Breakout Session: The Business of Law – What I Wish I Knew Before Starting My Own Firm,” Panelist, 2024 Albert J. Krieger Annual Meeting of NACDL, July 2024, Seattle, WA
“Avoiding the Pitfalls and Moving Your Case through GDC,” with the Hon. William W. Eldridge, IV. Conquering the Mountains: New Paths to Win Your Case, VACDL 2019 Fall Seminar
“Probation Violations: How to Mitigate, Advocate, And Sometimes Even Win,” Winning the Unwinnable Case, VACDL Fall Seminar 2018