• B.A., University of Missouri, 1972
• B.S., University of Missouri, 1972
• J.D., University of Missouri, 1977

After graduating from the University of Missouri School of Law in 1977, Deborah Daniels clerked for Missouri Supreme Court Judge Fred Henley. Through her career, she has served as director of research for the Missouri Supreme Court, an assistant prosecutor for Boone County and chief counsel for the Missouri Attorney General’s Office criminal division.

Daniels was elected to her first term as judge in 2006. She was reelected in 2010 and 2014. As an associate circuit judge, Daniels oversaw the circuit’s probate division and general civil and criminal dockets.

One of her legacies is advancing the use of technology in the courtroom. Daniels sits on a variety of court committees centered on improving and modernizing the functionality of
Missouri’s legal system, and she received an Advanced Science and Technology Adjudication Resource Award in 2009 for completing 120 hours of court-related science and technology training. She is also a fellow of that program.

Daniels has also lectured at the Missouri Judicial College, and at other CLEs (continuing legal education) throughout the state of Missouri. In December 2017, Daniels won an award from the Missouri Psychiatric Center for 10 years of contributions to mental health cases.