Region 3 Director

As a Cuyahoga County judge with more than 25 years of experience, Matia has handled thousands of cases and hundreds of trials on Ohio’s busiest bench. In 2008, Matia founded Cuyahoga County’s first felony drug court, which has positively impacted more than 1,000 lives over the past 15 years. Through this work, Matia regularly helps out at treatment centers, leads group therapy sessions, and speaks to family groups after work about their loved ones’ substance use disorder. In 2021, Matia was named Jurist of the Year by the Ohio Association of Justice, and the United States Department of Justice recognized him for outstanding contributions to community partnerships for public safety. A graduate of the Case Western Reserve University’s School of Law, Matia is the past president of the Ohio Common Pleas Judges Association and regularly teaches at bar association seminars.

Matia says that seeing the potential in each human being and knowing that they can reclaim a productive and enjoyable life motivates him to continue helping others.