JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<button class='sort-divs'>Sort</button>
<div class="container">
    <div class="my_list" id="peter">
        <label class="name">Peter -
            <div id="peter_status"></div>
        </label>
    </div>
    <div class="my_list" id="sam">
        <label class="name">Sam -
            <div id="sam_status"></div>
        </label>
    </div>
    <div class="my_list" id="derek">
        <label class="name">Derek -
            <div id="derek_status"></div>
        </label>
    </div>
</div>

JavaScript

var divId = 'sam';
$('button.sort-divs').on('click', function () {
    var divHtml = $('#' + divId).html();
    $('#' + divId).remove();
    $('.container').prepend(divHtml);
});