Deborah Kooperstein was elected the first female Town Justice in Southampton's history in November of 1993, and has retired, completing her 7th term in December of 2021.

She authored a grant and received funding from the U.S. Department of Justice to create an advocacy program and instituted a Law Student Intern program. Both of these programs continue to this day at the Southampton Town Justice Court.

She was appointed as a Certified Drug Treatment Court Judge for the five East End Towns in Suffolk County in 2002 and served in that capacity for 19 years until her retirement. She has testified before Congress on the subject of Alternative Courts and Juvenile Justice and received a Congressional Recognition Award for service to the community. She is a Board Member of the Bridgehampton Community House and the Hamptons Doc Fest.

She served as President of the Suffolk County Magistrate's Association for seven years and as an instructor for NYS Town & Village Justice Training Program. She is a graduate of New York University and a graduate of Cleveland Marshall College of Law. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York and before the United States Supreme Court. She is a member of the New York State Magistrate's Association, the New York State Bar Association, and the Suffolk County Bar Association where she has been appointed to serve as Chair of the East End Committee.