He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Case Western Reserve University in 1959.

He was a law clerk, Court of Common Pleas of Cuyahoga County, Ohio from 1963 to 1966.

He once again served in the state senate from 1979 to 1982 He was a Vice President of Van Meter, Ashbrook & Associates from 1982 to 1984.

During his time as a judge, he was notable for restoring John Demjanjuk's United States citizenship in 1998 but later revoking it in 2002 after a new trial.

Matia later worked for the Porter Wright Morris & Arthur law firm in its Cleveland office, but has since retired.