A native of Detroit, Judge Deborah Lewis Langston graduated from Cass Technical High School in 1971. She received a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Michigan in 1978 and attended University of Michigan Law School, graduating in 1982.

Judge Langston was elected to the 36th District Court in 1988. Prior to this position, she was the first African American individual to be hired as Assistant Prosecutor for Macomb County. She has also served as Assistant Corporation Counsel for the City of Detroit and as Associate Senate General Counsel for the Michigan State Senate.