Presnell received his Bachelor of Arts degree (economics) from the College of William & Mary in 1964. He received his Juris Doctor from the Levin College of Law at the University of Florida in 1966. He was in private practice in Orlando, Florida from 1966 until 2000, serving also for part of that time in the United States. Army Reserve from 1967 to 1973.
On June 8, 2000, he was nominated by President Bill Clinton to a new seat on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida. He was confirmed by the Senate on July 21, 2000 and received his commission on July 31, 2000. On April 1, 2012 he assumed senior status.
On Monday, June 25, 2012, the White House Press Office announced that President Barack Obama had nominated Judge Sheri Polster Chappell to the United States. Senate for possible confirmation as his replacement.
In the 2006 case Avista Management, Incorporated. v. Waussau Underwriters Insurance Company, Judge Presnell ordered the representatives of the two parties to compete in a game of "rock, paper, scissors" to determine which party could select the location for a pre-trial deposition, a matter he considered should have been trivially simple to come to agreement on.
Presnell"s comments on the crack/powder sentencing disparity were also noted by the media in that year.
