--- title: "Debra Shopteese | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-08-02" --- # Debra Shopteese Massachusetts District Court · Associate Justice ## Profile - Court: Massachusetts District Court - State: Massachusetts - Role: Associate Justice - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-25 ## 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 ### remote hearings Scope: courtwide Massachusetts District Court lists specified non-evidentiary, scheduling, status, civil-management, and other proceedings that may be held remotely unless the presiding judge or clerk-magistrate orders otherwise. Evidence excerpt: The following events may be held remotely unless otherwise ordered by a judge or clerk-magistrate [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### remote recording Scope: courtwide Photographing, recording, or electronically transmitting a Massachusetts District Court remote or hybrid hearing requires prior authorization from the supervising judge or clerk-magistrate. Evidence excerpt: No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, of a remote or hybrid court hearing, without prior authorization from the judge or clerk magistrate [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ### recording and photography Scope: statewide In Massachusetts courts, photography, recording, or electronic transmission in a courtroom or related judicial space requires prior authorization from the judge or magistrate supervising that place, subject to Rule 1:19's separate provisions for registered news media. Evidence excerpt: No person shall take any photographs, or make any recording or transmission by electronic means, in any courtroom, hearing room, office, chambers or lobby of a judge or magistrate without prior authorization [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Official roster](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Massachusetts Court System official judicial roster](https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges) - [Joint Standing Order 1-26: Order on remote court hearings](https://www.mass.gov/districtmunicipal-court-rules/joint-standing-order-1-26-order-on-remote-court-hearings) - [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://www.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts) - [Wikidata: Debra Shopteese](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q89705205) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese", "name": "Debra Shopteese | KnowJudges", "description": "Debra Shopteese, Massachusetts District Court. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-08-02", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese#judge", "name": "Debra Shopteese", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese", "jobTitle": "Associate Justice", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Massachusetts District Court" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.mass.gov/info-details/district-court-judges" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Massachusetts", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/massachusetts" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Debra Shopteese", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/debra-shopteese" } ] } ] } ``` ## Biography ### Professional career - On September 21, 2011, Shopteese was sworn in as the first Native American justice on the Massachusetts District Court, a milestone recognized by Governor Patrick and Chief Justice Roderick Ireland - Associate Justice of the Boston Municipal Court in Massachusetts, appointed in 2010 by Governor Deval Patrick, and the first Native American justice to serve on the Massachusetts District Court ### Education ### Additional information - Legal Career: 24 years as a public defender with the Committee for Public Counsel Services, including as Attorney-in-Charge of the Roxbury Defenders Division from 1999 until her judicial appointment Former Supreme Court Justice of the Native American Sac and Fox Nation, Thunder Clan Taught criminal trial advocacy at Northeastern University School of Law - Initially appointed as a circuit justice of the Massachusetts District Court before being assigned to the Municipal Court ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [Supreme Judicial Court Rule 1:19: Electronic access to the courts](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-20acbd9da185f40e1f10b2b2) — 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.mass.gov/supreme-judicial-court-rules/supreme-judicial-court-rule-119-electronic-access-to-the-courts). Collected 2026-07-26.