Committed to Justice
Serving Sabine Parish
Judge Verity Gentry is the elected District Judge of the Eleventh Judicial District Court. She hears and issues final judgments in all types of cases as well as appeals from Justice of the Peace Courts, Mayor's Courts, and other lower courts in Sabine Parish. Since her election, the Court has launched numerous initiatives in partnership with other local government and nonprofit agencies. To date, these include modernization of the courtrooms, streamlining and digitalization of the jury questionnaire process, and implementation of a drug court program.
A proud native of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, Judge Gentry grew up in Many. She earned her Juris Doctor cum laude ('10) from Loyola University College of Law in New Orleans. While in law school, she served as the Head Teaching Assistant for Research and Writing. She was the Maritime Law Journal Substance and Citation Editor, a member of the St. Thomas More Inn of Court, and a judicial intern for Federal Magistrate Mary Milloy in Houston, where she drafted an opinion affirmed by the U.S. Southern District of Texas, Fifth Circuit. Prior to law school, she earned a Business (Pre-Law) degree from LSU in Baton Rouge, worked in the Louisiana Attorney General's office, and interned for Sen. Mary Landrieu in Washington, D.C.
As a lawyer, Judge Gentry handled thousands of cases across Louisiana, starting as an Orleans Parish Public Defender in New Orleans, then moving on to other prominent Louisiana firms before founding and operating her own successful law firm, with offices in Many and Shreveport. She was previously named a "Rising Star Super Lawyer." She continues to volunteer throughout the parish and surrounding area.
Hearing Officer Riall
District Hearing Officer and Staff Attorney
D.H.O. Rebecca Riall conducts child support, protective order, and other domestic hearings and issues recommendations to the Court for ruling. She also serves as the judicial staff attorney, providing objective legal analysis to the Court, and writing orders and judgments.
Dr. Riall earned her Doctor of Jurisprudence cum laude from the Indiana University Maurer School of Law ('09) and her PhD ('14), MA, and BA in Anthropology and BS in Geological Sciences from Indiana University Bloomington. In law school, Dr. Riall served as a Notes Editor of the Indiana Journal of Global Legal Studies. She received one of Indiana University's most prestigious doctoral research fellowships, the John H. Edwards Fellowship, on the basis of "good citizenship, character, especially attitude toward public service and the likelihood of future usefulness to society, scholastic ability, and intellectual capacity." In graduate school, she co-founded the First Nations Educational and Cultural Center at IU. Riall teaches pre-law and anthropology at a nearby university and volunteers with local nonprofits. She is licensed to practice law in Louisiana and Indiana (inactive), and formerly operated Riall Law Office, LLC in Zwolle.
Ms. Kaleigh Carver
Law Clerk and Jury Administrator
Ms. Carver is committed to the administration of justice and courtroom efficiency. A graduate of Bossier Parish Community College, she earned an Associate Degree in Business Administration and a Technical Certificate in Basic Management. She is finishing her Bachelor's in Liberal Arts with a concentration in Pre-Law and Paralegal Studies at Northwestern State University. She previously worked for the Sabine Parish Clerk of Court as a civil minute clerk. With experience in judicial processes and organizational management, Ms. Carver supports judicial proceedings and coordinates jury services, striving for professionalism and integrity.
Ms. Martha Walters Hagelin
Judicial Administrator, Official Court Reporter, and Human Resources Director
Ms. Hagelin is the Judicial Administrator, Official Court Reporter, and Human Resources Director. She holds a certificate from the Legal Assistant Program at Northwestern State University. Ms. Hagelin is both a Certified Voice Writer and a Certified Digital Reporter in the State of Louisiana. Throughout her long-standing career, she has worked to ensure the smooth operation of court and the integrity of the record, while supporting all court personnel and showing compassion and impartiality to everyone who appears before the court.
Mr. Dale Walters
Pretrial Services Coordinator and Drug Court Coordinator
As the Pretrial Services and Drug Coordinator, Mr. Walters plays a vital role in supporting individuals through the justice system and into recovery. He is a Licensed Peer Recovery Support Specialist with a deep commitment to second chances. He brings both professional and personal insight into the recovery journey. Mr. Walters holds a B.A. in Accounting and takes pride in combining his analytical skills with compassionate advocacy to promote accountability, rehabilitation, and long-term success for program participants for the benefit of the entire community.