diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index f6f33403..7776f527 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
   const isMountingRef = useRef(true);
   const fetchItemsRef = useRef<((silent?: boolean) => Promise<void>) | null>(null);
 
-  const FETCH_COOLDOWN_MS = 1000;
+  const FETCH_COOLDOWN_MS = 300; // Match filter debounce delay for responsive sort changes
 
   // Store settings in refs to avoid re-creating fetchItems
   const settingsRef = useRef(settings);
@@ -162,10 +162,11 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
    * Fetch queue items from database
    */
   const fetchItems = useCallback(
-    async (silent = false) => {
+    async (silent = false, bypassCooldown = false) => {
       console.log('🔄 [fetchItems RECREATED]', {
         sortField: sort.field,
         sortDirection: sort.direction,
+        bypassCooldown,
         timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
       });
 
@@ -195,10 +196,10 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
         return;
       }
 
-      // Cooldown check
+      // Cooldown check (can be bypassed for critical operations like sort changes)
       const now = Date.now();
       const timeSinceLastFetch = now - lastFetchTimeRef.current;
-      if (timeSinceLastFetch < FETCH_COOLDOWN_MS && lastFetchTimeRef.current > 0) {
+      if (!bypassCooldown && timeSinceLastFetch < FETCH_COOLDOWN_MS && lastFetchTimeRef.current > 0) {
         console.log(`⏸️ Fetch cooldown active (${timeSinceLastFetch}ms)`);
         return;
       }
@@ -321,12 +322,42 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
           );
         }
 
-        // Get total count
-        const { count } = await supabase
+        // Get total count for pagination (rebuild query with same filters)
+        let countQuery = supabase
           .from("content_submissions")
-          .select("*", { count: "exact", head: true })
-          .match(submissionsQuery as any);
+          .select("*", { count: "exact", head: true });
 
+        // Apply same filters as main query
+        if (tab === "mainQueue") {
+          if (statusFilter === "all") {
+            countQuery = countQuery.in("status", ["pending", "flagged", "partially_approved"]);
+          } else if (statusFilter === "pending") {
+            countQuery = countQuery.in("status", ["pending", "partially_approved"]);
+          } else {
+            countQuery = countQuery.eq("status", statusFilter);
+          }
+        } else {
+          if (statusFilter === "all") {
+            countQuery = countQuery.in("status", ["approved", "rejected"]);
+          } else {
+            countQuery = countQuery.eq("status", statusFilter);
+          }
+        }
+
+        if (entityFilter === "photos") {
+          countQuery = countQuery.eq("submission_type", "photo");
+        } else if (entityFilter === "submissions") {
+          countQuery = countQuery.neq("submission_type", "photo");
+        }
+
+        if (!isAdmin && !isSuperuser) {
+          const now = new Date().toISOString();
+          countQuery = countQuery.or(
+            `assigned_to.is.null,locked_until.lt.${now},assigned_to.eq.${user.id}`,
+          );
+        }
+
+        const { count } = await countQuery;
         pagination.setTotalCount(count || 0);
 
         // Apply pagination
@@ -353,6 +384,22 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
 
         if (submissionsError) throw submissionsError;
 
+        // VALIDATE: Log first few items to verify sort is working
+        if (submissions && submissions.length > 0) {
+          console.log('[Query] Results returned (first 3 items):', {
+            sortColumn,
+            sortDirection: sortAscending ? 'ASC' : 'DESC',
+            items: submissions.slice(0, 3).map(s => ({
+              id: s.id.substring(0, 8),
+              type: s.submission_type,
+              status: s.status,
+              created: s.created_at,
+              escalated: s.escalated,
+              sortValue: s[sortColumn as keyof typeof s]
+            }))
+          });
+        }
+
         // Fetch related profiles and entities
         const userIds = [
           ...new Set([
@@ -955,9 +1002,6 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
     console.log('🔄 [Sort Changed]', {
       field: sort.field,
       direction: sort.direction,
-      configField: sort.config.field,
-      configDirection: sort.config.direction,
-      match: sort.field === sort.config.field && sort.direction === sort.config.direction,
       timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
     });
 
@@ -973,19 +1017,15 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
       return;
     }
 
-    // CRITICAL: Ensure we're using the latest fetchItems
-    if (fetchItemsRef.current) {
-      console.log('✅ Triggering refetch due to sort change', {
-        willUseField: sort.field,
-        willUseDirection: sort.direction
-      });
-      
-      // Force immediate refetch
-      fetchItemsRef.current(false);
-    } else {
-      console.error('❌ fetchItemsRef.current is null - cannot refetch!');
-    }
-  }, [sort.field, sort.direction]);
+    console.log('✅ Triggering refetch due to sort change', {
+      willUseField: sort.field,
+      willUseDirection: sort.direction
+    });
+    
+    // Call fetchItems directly (guaranteed to have latest sort values in closure)
+    // Use bypass to skip cooldown for immediate sort response
+    fetchItems(false, true);
+  }, [sort.field, sort.direction, fetchItems]);
 
   // Initialize realtime subscriptions
   useRealtimeSubscriptions({