Debra Moses Stephens at a glance
- Current role
- Circuit Judge
- Jurisdiction
- Florida · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Debra Moses Stephens
Circuit Judge · Florida Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court
Biography
Professional career
- Debra Moses Stephens has held the role of a County Court Judge in Palm Beach County, Florida, beginning her judicial career in June 2000
Education
- Howard University School of Law in — J.D. (1987)
- Bachelor’s degree in English from Duke University in 1984
Additional information
- In 2023, Judge Stephens was honored with the Excellence Award at the Florida Black Judges of Excellence Event, recognizing her contributions both on and off the bench.
- She initially served as an Assistant Public Defender in both trial and appellate divisions from 1987 to 2000, gaining extensive courtroom experience.
- Judge Stephens emphasizes fairness, impartiality, and service to the community.
- She has held assignments in multiple divisions, including the County Criminal Division, Domestic Violence Division, and County Civil Division, and has also held the role of an Administrative Judge and Mentor Judge for new judges.
- Actively involved in her community, participating in youth programs, Girl Scout projects, and local court initiatives
- Early in her career, she briefly considered a career in medicine but chose law due to her passion for courtroom trial work
- She opted not to seek a fifth term, and her seat was contested in recent elections
- Her work includes mentoring new judges and volunteering in specialized court programs such as the Riviera Beach Civil Drug Court Debra Moses Stephens is widely regarded as a dedicated, experienced, and community-focused judge, with a career spanning over two decades in Palm Beach County’s judicial system
- Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Stephens comes from a family with strong public service ties.
- She has also served on the Judicial Oversight Committee for Traffic Adjudication Hearing Officers and the Palm Beach County Criminal Justice Commission Court System Task Force
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Media And Still Photography
Statewide
Electronic media and still-photography coverage is allowed in Florida public trial and appellate proceedings under Rule 2.450's equipment and conduct standards, always subject to the presiding judge's control of decorum, distractions, and fair administration.
Subject at all times to the authority of the presiding judge to: (i) control the conduct of proceedings before the court; (ii) ensure decorum and prevent distractions; and (iii) ensure the fair administration of justice in the pending cause, electronic media and still photography coverage of public judicial proceedings in the appellate and trial courts of this state shall be allowedFlorida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗
Published courtroom rules
Shared court rules
Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Florida Fifteenth Judicial Circuit Court
Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory.
Official source ↗ · Collected 2026-07-26Sources
Identity source checked July 26, 2026.
Biography sources checked July 26, 2026.
Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster
Identity source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida Judicial Branch circuit court administration official judicial roster ↗Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View Florida Rule of General Practice and Judicial Administration 2.450, Media and Still Photography Coverage ↗