"H. Fuller Cridlin has served as Lee County's Commonwealth's Attorney since January 1, 2016. He graduated with high honors from Furman University in 2007 and Stetson University College of Law in 2011. Before attending law school, Cridlin taught Spanish in the Lee County Public School System during the 2007–2008 school year.
Since taking office, Cridlin has prosecuted thousands of cases ranging from minor traffic offenses to the most serious felonies. He has secured life sentences in numerous cases involving sexual offenses against children and has successfully prosecuted complex cases of murder, malicious wounding, and robbery, obtaining lengthy sentences for violent offenders. His work in public corruption and welfare fraud cases has resulted in over $100,000 in restitution for taxpayers.
In narcotics prosecutions, Cridlin focuses on high-volume traffickers, collaborating closely with law enforcement during investigations to ensure sentencing enhancements are pursued before charges are filed. This proactive approach has led to significant penalties for large-scale distributors. At the same time, Cridlin advocates for second-chance opportunities, supporting alternative sentencing programs like First Offender, Recovery Court, and Lee Works to provide addiction treatment and workforce training for individuals with minor offenses and no prior criminal history.
Cridlin’s commitment to community service extends well beyond the courtroom. He created a scholarship in memory of his late father, awarding over $25,000 to local students, and regularly volunteers with civic groups and youth mentoring programs. He founded the Tee Off Against Domestic Violence golf tournament, raising over $5,000 to support victims of domestic violence. His community efforts have also helped raise more than $25,000 for the Lee Recovery Court and secured an additional $5,000 for the TRIAD Senior Citizens Group through a community grant he authored.
Cridlin has extensive experience in grant writing, having successfully secured a competitive Operation Ceasefire grant that fully funds an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney position—valued at approximately $80,000 per year—without requiring any local match. He also manages the Lee County Victim Witness Office grant, which provides approximately $114,000 in annual funding.
In recognition of his leadership, Cridlin was named one of the "40 Under 40" leaders for Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee by the Tri-Cities Business Journal in 2021.
In his personal time, Cridlin enjoys attending Lee County sporting events with his wife, Jalan, hiking, traveling, and cheering on their favorite sports teams. They share their home and adventures with four dogs—Jack, Finn, Archie, and Scout."