diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index 44e16652..1152d64b 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -221,8 +221,7 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
             status
           )
         `,
-          )
-          .order("escalated", { ascending: false });
+          );
         
         // Map sort fields to correct database columns
         const sortField = 
@@ -236,9 +235,10 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
           ascending: sort.config.direction === 'asc'
         });
         
-        submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order(sortField, { 
-          ascending: sort.config.direction === 'asc' 
-        });
+        // Apply sorting: escalated first (desc), then user's chosen field
+        submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery
+          .order("escalated", { ascending: false })
+          .order(sortField, { ascending: sort.config.direction === 'asc' });
 
         // Apply tab-based status filtering
         const tab = filters.activeTab;