A Kentucky Lawyer, Dedicated to Service
Damon Preston grew up in Harrodsburg, a proud Mercer County High School Scottie — yes, the sports teams were named after the Scottish terrier. After playing the role of a defense attorney in a high school drama production, Damon was encouraged that he would make a good attorney, and a seed was planted. He went on to earn a mathematics degree with honors from Transylvania University in Lexington before being accepted to Harvard Law School, from which he graduated with honors in 1994.
Damon and his wife have lived in Georgetown for more than twenty years and have two daughters. Away from the office, Damon coaches little league baseball and is a loyal — if sometimes long-suffering — Cincinnati Reds fan. Ask him about his wall of baseball cards sometime.
During law school, Damon trained at the Harvard Defenders legal clinic, working under the mentorship of Professor Charles Ogletree — one of the nation’s foremost criminal defense scholars. He then spent three years as a public defender in New York City before answering the call to come home to Kentucky, where he dedicated the next 29 years to the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy.
During that time, Damon rose through every level of the system — staff attorney in the Richmond office, leader of the Cynthiana, Paducah, and Appeals offices, and director of the Trial Division — before being appointed the Public Advocate, Kentucky’s Chief Defender over the statewide system of more than 400 attorneys.
He remained in that role for nine years, serving under two Governors, until leaving state service in 2026 to launch the Damon Law Office.
Beyond the courtroom, Damon has been a recognized leader in Kentucky’s criminal defense community and a trusted voice on criminal law at the highest levels of state government.
Damon’s commitment to criminal defense clients is rooted in his Christian faith. Every person deserves to be respected and treated with dignity, regardless of who they are or what they’ve done. Here’s how Damon explains it:
The most common question I get as a defense lawyer is this: “How can you defend guilty people”? I have a few answers, but here’s one that is important to me: God loves guilty people, and I’m really glad he does because I’m not so great myself. I may not have committed a crime, but the Bible says “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). We’ve all sinned and I’m not going to debate God on which sinners are worse than others. He loves them all, so the least I can do is be in someone’s corner when they need an advocate.
Jesus demonstrated this when he was brought to the woman who had been caught committing a crime (John 8: 3-11). When her accusers wanted her punished, Jesus stood with her against her accusers, not in condemnation, but in support. He did not deny her guilt; he affirmed her humanity. That’s the model by which I want to practice.
Damon also believes in the American justice system, which depends on adversarial advocacy. If the prosecution and law enforcement are not challenged by a zealous defender of the accused, then the innocent will be convicted. It is not for the lawyer or the public to decide who is guilty and of what crime; these must be proven in the courtroom beyond a reasonable doubt. The system only works when both sides have a dedicated skilled advocate arguing for their client. Criminal defense attorneys, willing to defend any case, are not just protecting their client; they are protecting the whole community from unproven allegations and government overreach.
For more than 30 years, Damon L. Preston has stood with clients facing serious criminal charges, providing clear guidance, strong representation, and unwavering support throughout the legal process. His experience spans from local courts in Kentucky to appellate work and leadership of the state’s public defender system.
If you are facing criminal charges in Central Kentucky, you deserve an experienced advocate in your corner. The other side will do everything in their power to win the case against you. Damon Preston will stand beside you – fighting to protect your rights and ensure the process is fair.
Ready to take the first step? Call Damon’s office at 502-783-6626 or email at Damon@NotGuiltyKY.com to schedule a free, confidential consultation. Calls are answered any time, seven days a week.
