Trusted Criminal Defense Lawyer & Attorney in Louisville, KY
An experienced Louisville criminal lawyer protecting your freedom, your reputation, and your future, one case at a time.
ATTORNEY MATT FARRA
As an experienced Louisville criminal defense lawyer, Matt Farra provides aggressive and strategic representation for clients across Louisville, Kentucky, Jefferson County, and surrounding communities.
Whether you are facing a misdemeanor, felony, DUI, drug charge, domestic violence charge, or a serious criminal accusation, you deserve a defense attorney who will fight for you at every step.
Matt brings years of courtroom experience, a deep understanding of Kentucky criminal law, and a commitment to securing the best possible outcome for your case.
Legal Services Focused on Your
Protection and Recovery
As a Louisville criminal defense lawyer, I handle every case personally, from the first phone call through resolution. My focus is protecting your record, your rights, and your future, with a defense strategy built around the specifics of your charge.
Criminal Defense
Your Advocate Against Criminal Charges in Louisville, KY
From traffic violations to murder, Farra Law Firm provides aggressive and strategic defense. Matt understands how stressful a criminal accusation can be and he fights to protect your record, your rights, and your future.
My criminal defense lawyer services include:
Serving Louisville,
Jefferson County, and Surrounding Kentucky Courts
My office sits in downtown Louisville, minutes from the Hall of Justice, which is convenient for clients with cases in Jefferson County District and Circuit Court, federal court, and the surrounding Kentucky counties. You get a local attorney who knows the courtrooms, the prosecutors, and the community.
Over 20 Years Defending Criminal Cases in Kentucky
I have been licensed to practice law in Kentucky since October 2005. In that time I have handled criminal cases in Jefferson County District and Circuit Court and in federal court for the Western District of Kentucky, which sits here in Louisville.
I am a native Louisvillian. I grew up here, I practice here, and I know the courtrooms, the dockets, and the people who work in them. When you hire me, you are not being handed to an associate or a paralegal. I handle the case myself from the first phone call through resolution.
Credentials
- Admitted to the Kentucky Bar Association in October 2005, KBA member number 90835
- J.D., Salmon P. Chase College of Law, Northern Kentucky University, 2005
- B.A., History, Centre College, 2001
- Admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
- Solo practitioner, so every case is handled personally from start to finish
How I Work
You get my cell number, not a call center. I answer by phone or text, including nights and weekends, because criminal charges do not keep business hours and the first 48 hours usually matter most.
I will tell you what I actually think about your case, including when the news is not what you were hoping to hear. You will know what the charge carries, what the realistic paths forward are, and what each one costs before you decide anything.
Where Your Case Will Be Heard in Louisville
Criminal cases in Louisville move through two different trial courts, and which one hears yours depends on what you are charged with. Knowing the difference tells you a great deal about what is coming.
Jefferson County District Court
Hall of Justice, 600 West Jefferson Street
District Court handles misdemeanors, violations, traffic offenses, and juvenile matters. It is also where felony cases start. Arraignment and the preliminary hearing happen here before a felony charge ever reaches the grand jury, which means the earliest and often most useful work on a serious case happens in this building.
Jefferson County Circuit Court
Judicial Center, 700 West Jefferson Street
Once a grand jury returns an indictment, a felony case moves to Circuit Court for arraignment, pretrial motions, plea negotiation, and trial. This is where the most serious charges are resolved, and where suppression motions and evidentiary fights tend to decide the outcome.
If you were arrested rather than cited, you were most likely booked into the Louisville Metro Department of Corrections downtown, and your first court appearance will be on the District Court arraignment docket. Those dockets are called every day, including weekends and holidays. Bond is addressed at that appearance, which is why reaching a lawyer before it happens matters more than almost anything else you can do in the first day.
What to Do in the First 48 Hours After an Arrest
Most of the damage I have to undo in a criminal case was done in the first two days, before anyone called a lawyer. Here is what protects you.
- Say nothing about the facts. Give your name and identifying information. Beyond that, say that you want a lawyer and then stop talking. You cannot talk your way out of a charge, and officers are not required to stop asking just because you are innocent.
- Do not consent to a search. If an officer asks permission to search your car, your phone, or your home, declining is not an admission of anything. A search you agreed to is far harder to challenge later than one you did not.
- Do not discuss the case on a jail phone. Calls placed from Louisville Metro Corrections are recorded, and prosecutors can and do obtain them. That includes calls to family. Properly placed attorney calls are treated differently.
- Write down what you remember, immediately. Times, locations, who was present, what was said, what officers did and in what order. Memory degrades fast, and these details are what suppression motions are built from.
- Call a lawyer before arraignment. Bond is addressed at that first appearance. Having counsel there, with information about your ties to the community and your record, is the difference between arguing for release and hoping for it.
How Kentucky Classifies Criminal Charges
Kentucky sorts criminal offenses into felonies, misdemeanors, and violations, and the class of the charge sets the statutory range a court can work within. These ranges come from KRS 532.060, KRS 532.090, KRS 534.030, and KRS 534.040.
| Classification | Possible incarceration | Possible fine |
| Class A felony | 20 to 50 years, or life | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Class B felony | 10 to 20 years | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Class C felony | 5 to 10 years | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Class D felony | 1 to 5 years | $1,000 to $10,000 |
| Class A misdemeanor | Up to 12 months | Up to $500 |
| Class B misdemeanor | Up to 90 days | Up to $250 |
| Violation | No jail term | Up to $250 |
These are the general statutory ranges. Capital offenses are sentenced separately, enhancements and persistent felony offender status under KRS 532.080 can raise exposure, and some statutes set their own penalties. What any individual actually faces depends on the charge, the record, and the facts. Nothing on this page is a prediction about any particular case.
Serving Every Part of Louisville and Jefferson County
Louisville and Jefferson County share one merged metro government and one set of trial courts. Wherever in the county the stop or the arrest happened, whether that is St. Matthews, Jeffersontown, Middletown, Shively, Fern Creek, Okolona, Valley Station, Pleasure Ridge Park, Newburg, Buechel, Fairdale, Lyndon, Hurstbourne, or anywhere in the urban core, your case lands on a docket at the same two courthouses on West Jefferson Street.
My office is downtown, a short walk from both of them. That matters more than it sounds like it should. Bond motions, early conversations with the prosecutor assigned to your case, and filings that cannot wait all happen in person, often on short notice, and I am already there.
WHY CLIENTS TRUST FARRA LAW FIRM
Clients across Louisville and Kentucky turn to Matt Farra for personal attention, clear communication, and proven experience. Every case is handled directly by criminal defense lawyer Matt Farra from start to finish.
Proven results in Louisville criminal courts
Fast response and urgent case handling
Direct communication with your attorney
Personalized defense strategies
Confidential
consultations
Javiel V.
When my world turned upside down, we were fortunate to have Matt by our side. Words cannot fully capture how he went above and beyond for our family during one of the most challenging times in our lives. My son was facing the possibility of life imprisonment, but from day one, Matt assured us that he would do everything in his power to prevent that from happening. His compassion and unwavering support were evident throughout the entire case.
Lakeesha T.
I highly recommend Fara Law Firm. They are easy to do business with. I was treated with kindness and respect. He handled my case effectively and professionally. All questions I had, were answered. He got my case resolved and communicated me with me once everything was taken care of!! Thank you Fara Law Firm!
Natasha H.
Good lawyer very professional. He really cares for his clients. Great law firm would highly recommend
Kamilah S.
Matt was so nice and understanding with me. He did a great job in helping with the case. I highly recommend Matt. He will definitely be the first I contact if I am ever in need of an attorney again.
Ash L.
Lanita G.
Matt has represented myself and others in my family. He is very professional, knowledgeable of the laws and will go to bat for his clients to get the best result for his clients. He doesn’t mind arguing the law and my family has never been anything but pleased and grateful to have his expertise. His prices are fair and I would highly recommend him to anyone. Hes not just an attorney. He is highly regarded by my entire family and always returns phone calls or texts to inform his clients of what they can expect. I will always hire Matt Farra!
Brittney B.
Matt did an excellent job representing me throughout my time in the court system. He not only did a great job as a lawyer but treated me like a friend as well, and that is what I liked most about Matt. I would recommend him to anyone who is looking for a lawyer. He’s had a major impact on my life for the better and I owe him for that. Great lawyer and a great guy, no doubt. Thanks again Matt!
Jermaine B.
We have been clients of Matt since 2012 for different reasons. He is the best hands down. Fair rates, professional, and has never not done what he has said he would do. He always gets back to us in a timely manner for all of our questions or concerns. He is highly recommended! Call him if you are needed a solid man behind you in court! Nothing short of AMAZING!!
Kayla M.
Matt has been representing My family and I for years now, I wouldn’t trust any other lawyer the way I trust Matt with the things that could essentially affect my life though the court systems. He is always on time, has never missed a court date on my behalf, and will/has helped me out in anyway that he possibly could and gives me words of encouragement every chance he can. If you need a great lawyer, I would 100% only recommend Matt Farra and the Farra law firm. Thanks again Matt Farra!
Zack H.
Farra Law Firm Reviews
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Frequently Asked Questions
What should I do if I have been charged with a crime in Louisville, Kentucky?
Contact a Louisville criminal defense lawyer immediately, before speaking to police or prosecutors. You have the right to remain silent, and anything you say can be used against you. I am available by call or text 24/7 at (502) 314-4499. Getting a lawyer involved early is one of the most useful steps you can take to protect your record, your rights, and your future.
How much does a criminal lawyer cost in Louisville?
Legal fees vary with the complexity of the case and the charges involved. A traffic citation, a Class A misdemeanor, and a Class B felony are three very different amounts of work, and I will not quote you a number before I understand which one you are facing. What I will do is walk you through the fee structure during your free initial consultation so you know the cost before you commit to anything. I do not take a case without the client understanding exactly what it will cost and what it covers.
What types of criminal cases do you handle?
I handle a wide range of criminal matters in Louisville and Jefferson County, including DUI and drunk driving, drug charges, assault, domestic violence, theft, felony and misdemeanor defense, probation violations, traffic offenses, juvenile defense, white-collar crimes, and expungements. I handle every case personally from start to finish.
Can my charges be reduced or dismissed?
Sometimes. I examine the evidence, the police procedures, the constitutional issues, and the weaknesses in the Commonwealth’s case to pursue charge reductions, dismissals, or favorable plea negotiations where the facts support them. Whether that is possible depends entirely on the specifics of your case, and I will not tell you otherwise to get you in the door. What I can tell you is that pretrial work done early, before positions harden, is where most of the realistic opportunities in a Jefferson County case appear.
Will I work directly with Matt Farra?
Yes. I am a solo practitioner, so every case is handled by me from your first consultation through resolution. You will have direct access to your attorney rather than a paralegal or an associate, which means clear communication and a defense strategy built specifically around your situation.
Do I need a lawyer for a misdemeanor in Kentucky?
A Class A misdemeanor in Kentucky carries up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $500, so the exposure is real even though the charge is not a felony. Beyond the sentence, a misdemeanor conviction stays on your record and shows up in background checks run by employers, landlords, and licensing boards. Many people take a misdemeanor less seriously than they should and plead guilty at arraignment to make it go away, then spend years dealing with the record. Talk to a lawyer before you decide the charge is too small to fight. Learn more about misdemeanor defense.
What is the difference between a felony and a misdemeanor in Kentucky?
The dividing line is the possible sentence. Under KRS 532.090, a Class A misdemeanor carries up to 12 months and a Class B misdemeanor up to 90 days, both served in jail rather than prison. Felonies under KRS 532.060 start at one to five years for a Class D and run up to 20 to 50 years or life for a Class A, served in state prison. The procedural difference matters too: misdemeanors are resolved in Jefferson County District Court, while a felony begins in District Court and then moves to Circuit Court after a grand jury indictment.
How long does a criminal case take in Jefferson County?
It depends on the charge and the court. A traffic matter or a simple misdemeanor in District Court can resolve in a few court dates over a couple of months. A felony that goes through a preliminary hearing, grand jury presentation, indictment, Circuit Court arraignment, discovery, and pretrial motions typically runs much longer, and a case that goes to trial longer still. Kentucky has no rule-based speedy trial clock. RCr 9.02 requires only that trial be held as promptly as reasonably possible. I would rather give you an honest range once I have seen the discovery than a number now that turns out to be wrong.
What happens at arraignment in Louisville?
Arraignment is your first appearance in front of a judge. The charge is read, you enter a plea, counsel is addressed, and the court takes up bond. In Jefferson County, District Court arraignment dockets are called every day, including weekends and holidays, at the Hall of Justice on West Jefferson Street. It is a short hearing, but it sets your release conditions and your next court date, which is why having a lawyer present rather than appearing alone makes a practical difference.
Can I get my charge expunged in Kentucky?
Often, yes. Charges that ended without a conviction, meaning dismissals with prejudice and acquittals, are handled under KRS 431.076. Qualifying misdemeanors and violations become eligible five years after you complete the sentence under KRS 431.078. Many Class D felony convictions can be vacated and expunged five years after completion under KRS 431.073, provided the offense is on the eligible list and you have stayed clean during the waiting period. Eligibility turns on the specific offense and your record, so the first step is confirming which statute applies to you. Learn more about expungement.
This website is an advertisement. The information on this page is general in nature and is not legal advice. Reading it or contacting me does not create an attorney-client relationship. Every case is different and past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome in any future case.