Deborah Lee Lumkes

Deborah "Debby" Lee Lumkes was born January 3, 1950, in San Mateo, California. She attended Los Altos High School and studied for two years at the University of Idaho in Moscow before transferring to the University of Nevada, Reno, where she graduated in 1972 with a degree in journalism. She later worked for the CIA before entering the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific in Sacramento, California. She graduated from law school in 1980 and was admitted to both the Nevada State Bar and the California State Bar.

Returning to Reno, Deborah began her legal career with the Washoe County District Attorney's office and entered private practice in 1985. In 1992, she became the first female Court Master in Washoe County, and much of her time on the bench was devoted to juvenile and dependency cases. She served as a Judge Pro Tem in both the Reno Justice Court and the Reno Municipal Court beginning in 1985, becoming a major figure in the Washoe County justice system.

A dedicated advocate for children, Deborah served on the Board of Directors of For Kids, Inc., as a board member of the Gang Alternatives Partnership, and as a past president of Parents United. She was active in Nevada Women Lawyers, the Washoe County DUI Task Force, and the Washoe County Juvenile Justice Blue Ribbon Committee. In 2006, she was honored with the Child Advocate Attorney of the Year Award. Deborah Lee Lumkes died on April 17, 2017, remembered by colleagues as an example of the best way to practice law.