---
title: "Debra R. Phelan | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# Debra R. Phelan

Superior Court in Yavapai County · Superior Court Judge

## Profile

- Court: Superior Court in Yavapai County
- State: Arizona
- Role: Superior Court Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-27

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### digital evidence portal

Scope: statewide

Arizona's digital-evidence portal supports invited parties in participating courts to upload, review, manage, and share case exhibits for virtual or in-person hearings.

Evidence excerpt: The digital evidence portal provides convenient 24/7 online access to upload, review, and manage exhibits in a case to which a party has been invited.

[Arizona Digital Evidence](https://www.azcourts.gov/digitalevidence)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote hearing local orders

Scope: statewide

Arizona requires each Superior, Justice, and Municipal Court to issue a local remote-hearing administrative order. The applicable county or court order controls scheduling and technology requirements.

Evidence excerpt: The Arizona Supreme Court also mandated that each Superior, Justice, and Municipal Court issue a local administrative order based on these recommendations, with modifications as necessary due to technology or staffing limitations.

[Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings)
Source checked: 2026-07-26

### remote appearances and evidence

Scope: statewide

Arizona remote appearances depend on the assigned judge and court. Parties should provide the court with evidence, documents, photos, or proof needed for the remote hearing using the court's directions.

Evidence excerpt: Depending on the judge and court, hearings can be scheduled as in person or remote appearances.

[Remote Court Appearances](https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Resources/Remote-Court-Appearances)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://courts.yavapaiaz.gov/Departments/Superior-Court/Divisions)
- [Official roster](https://courts.yavapaiaz.gov/Departments/Superior-Court/Divisions)
- [Superior Court in Yavapai County official judicial roster](https://courts.yavapaiaz.gov/Departments/Superior-Court/Divisions)
- [Arizona Digital Evidence](https://www.azcourts.gov/digitalevidence)
- [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings)
- [Remote Court Appearances](https://www.azcourts.gov/selfservicecenter/Resources/Remote-Court-Appearances)

## JSON-LD

```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@graph": [
    {
      "@type": "WebPage",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8",
      "name": "Debra R. Phelan | KnowJudges",
      "description": "Debra R. Phelan, Superior Court in Yavapai County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.",
      "dateModified": "2026-10-07",
      "isPartOf": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website"
      },
      "mainEntity": {
        "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8#judge"
      }
    },
    {
      "@type": "Person",
      "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8#judge",
      "name": "Debra R. Phelan",
      "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8",
      "jobTitle": "Superior Court Judge",
      "worksFor": {
        "@type": "GovernmentOrganization",
        "name": "Superior Court in Yavapai County"
      },
      "sameAs": [
        "https://courts.yavapaiaz.gov/Departments/Superior-Court/Divisions"
      ]
    },
    {
      "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
      "itemListElement": [
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 1,
          "name": "KnowJudges",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 2,
          "name": "Arizona",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/arizona"
        },
        {
          "@type": "ListItem",
          "position": 3,
          "name": "Debra R. Phelan",
          "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-r-phelan-yavapai-division-8"
        }
      ]
    }
  ]
}
```

## Biography

### Professional career

- Began serving as a full-time judge pro tem in the Yavapai County Superior Court on January 7, 2019
- Currently, she is assigned to the adult criminal trial calendar at the Yavapai County Criminal Justice Center in Prescott, Arizona

### Education

- Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology from Northern Arizona University and a law degree from the Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law at Arizona State University in 2002.

### Additional information

- She was appointed to Division 8 of the Superior Court on June 29, 2023, a newly created division requested by the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors and approved by Governor Katie Hobbs.
- Native Arizonan and lifetime resident.
- During law school, she interned at the Arizona Supreme Court, the Arizona Legislature, and clerked for federal courts, completing over 100 hours of pro bono work, including serving as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA),.
- handling domestic relations, civil, probate, juvenile, and criminal matters, as well as presiding over therapeutic courts including Adult Recovery Court, Veterans’ Court, and Mental Health Court in both Prescott and Verde Valley Judicial Districts.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Local Administrative Orders Regarding Virtual Hearings](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-7bfe9b727b74710561b957ad) — 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](https://www.azcourts.gov/courtservices/Court-Services-Home/Local-Administrative-Orders-Regarding-Virtual-Hearings). Collected 2026-07-26.
