diff --git a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
index 7776f527..00eccd9c 100644
--- a/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
+++ b/src/hooks/moderation/useModerationQueueManager.ts
@@ -253,11 +253,15 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
         const sortAscending = sort.direction === 'asc';
 
         console.log('[Query] Applying sort:', {
+          sortLevels: [
+            '1. escalated DESC (always first)',
+            `2. ${sortColumn} ${sortAscending ? 'ASC' : 'DESC'} (user selected)`,
+            sortColumn !== 'created_at' ? '3. created_at ASC (tie-breaker)' : null
+          ].filter(Boolean),
           uiField: sort.field,
           dbColumn: sortColumn,
           direction: sort.direction,
           ascending: sortAscending,
-          sortObjectRef: sort,
           timestamp: new Date().toISOString()
         });
 
@@ -273,6 +277,10 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
           })(),
         });
 
+        // Always prioritize escalated submissions first
+        submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order('escalated', { ascending: false });
+
+        // Then apply user-selected sort
         submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order(sortColumn, { ascending: sortAscending });
 
         // CRITICAL: Verify the query builder chain is working
@@ -281,7 +289,7 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
           throw new Error('Supabase query builder is not functioning correctly');
         }
 
-        // Secondary sort by created_at for consistency when primary sort has ties
+        // Tertiary sort by created_at for consistency (only if not already the user's sort choice)
         if (sortColumn !== 'created_at') {
           submissionsQuery = submissionsQuery.order('created_at', { ascending: true });
         }
@@ -387,14 +395,13 @@ export function useModerationQueueManager(config: ModerationQueueManagerConfig):
         // 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',
+            sortLevels: `escalated DESC → ${sortColumn} ${sortAscending ? 'ASC' : 'DESC'}`,
             items: submissions.slice(0, 3).map(s => ({
               id: s.id.substring(0, 8),
+              escalated: s.escalated,
               type: s.submission_type,
               status: s.status,
               created: s.created_at,
-              escalated: s.escalated,
               sortValue: s[sortColumn as keyof typeof s]
             }))
           });