diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index 90d97235..e533d03b 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
         pauseFetchingRef: pauseFetchingRef.current,
         documentHidden: document.hidden,
         caller: callerLine,
-        sortField: sort.config.field,
-        sortDirection: sort.config.direction,
+        sortField: sort.debouncedConfig.field,
+        sortDirection: sort.debouncedConfig.direction,
         timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
       });
 
@@ -183,8 +183,8 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
       console.log("🔍 fetchItems called:", {
         entityFilter: filters.debouncedEntityFilter,
         statusFilter: filters.debouncedStatusFilter,
-        sortField: sort.config.field,
-        sortDirection: sort.config.direction,
+        sortField: sort.debouncedConfig.field,
+        sortDirection: sort.debouncedConfig.direction,
         silent,
         timestamp: new Date().toISOString(),
       });
@@ -227,14 +227,14 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
         // Level 1: Always sort by escalated first (descending)
         submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order('escalated', { ascending: false });
 
-        // Level 2: Apply user-selected sort
-        submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order(
-          sort.config.field,
-          { ascending: sort.config.direction === 'asc' }
-        );
+      // Level 2: Apply user-selected sort (use debounced config)
+      submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order(
+        sort.debouncedConfig.field,
+        { ascending: sort.debouncedConfig.direction === 'asc' }
+      );
 
-        // Level 3: Tertiary sort by created_at (if not already primary)
-        if (sort.config.field !== 'created_at') {
+      // Level 3: Tertiary sort by created_at (if not already primary)
+      if (sort.debouncedConfig.field !== 'created_at') {
           submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order('created_at', { ascending: true });
         }
 
@@ -475,8 +475,8 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
       pagination.setTotalCount,
       pagination.startIndex,
       pagination.endIndex,
-      sort.config.field,
-      sort.config.direction,
+      sort.debouncedConfig.field,
+      sort.debouncedConfig.direction,
       profileCache,
       entityCache,
       toast
@@ -812,9 +812,11 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
   useEffect(() => {
     if (!user || !initialFetchCompleteRef.current || isMountingRef.current) return;
 
-    console.log('🔄 [SORT CHANGE] Detected sort config change:', {
-      field: sort.config.field,
-      direction: sort.config.direction,
+    console.log('🔄 [SORT/FILTER CHANGE] Detected change:', {
+      entityFilter: filters.debouncedEntityFilter,
+      statusFilter: filters.debouncedStatusFilter,
+      sortField: sort.debouncedConfig.field,
+      sortDirection: sort.debouncedConfig.direction,
       timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
     });
 
@@ -823,8 +825,8 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
   }, [
     filters.debouncedEntityFilter, 
     filters.debouncedStatusFilter, 
-    sort.config.field,
-    sort.config.direction,
+    sort.debouncedConfig.field,
+    sort.debouncedConfig.direction,
     fetchItems,
     pagination.reset,
     user
diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationSort.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationSort.ts
index 6b01aef8..4c70d8cc 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationSort.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationSort.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 import { useState, useCallback, useEffect } from 'react';
+import { useDebounce } from '@/hooks/useDebounce';
 import type { SortConfig, SortField } from '@/types/moderation';
 
 const STORAGE_KEY = 'moderationQueue_sortConfig';
+const SORT_DEBOUNCE_MS = 300;
 
 /**
  * Default sort configuration
@@ -43,8 +45,10 @@ function saveSortConfig(config: SortConfig): void {
 }
 
 export interface UseModerationSortReturn {
-  /** Current sort configuration */
+  /** Current sort configuration (immediate) */
   config: SortConfig;
+  /** Debounced sort configuration (use this for queries) */
+  debouncedConfig: SortConfig;
   /** Update the sort configuration */
   setConfig: (config: SortConfig) => void;
   /** Sort by a specific field, toggling direction if already sorting by that field */
@@ -63,6 +67,9 @@ export interface UseModerationSortReturn {
  */
 export function useModerationSort(): UseModerationSortReturn {
   const [config, setConfigState] = useState<SortConfig>(loadSortConfig);
+  
+  // Debounce the config to prevent rapid-fire fetches
+  const debouncedConfig = useDebounce(config, SORT_DEBOUNCE_MS);
 
   // Persist to localStorage whenever config changes
   useEffect(() => {
@@ -70,6 +77,7 @@ export function useModerationSort(): UseModerationSortReturn {
   }, [config]);
 
   const setConfig = useCallback((newConfig: SortConfig) => {
+    console.log('📝 [SORT] setConfig called:', newConfig);
     setConfigState(newConfig);
   }, []);
 
@@ -96,6 +104,7 @@ export function useModerationSort(): UseModerationSortReturn {
 
   return {
     config,
+    debouncedConfig,
     setConfig,
     sortBy,
     toggleDirection,