Honorable Judge Joseph J. Matika
Phone: 570-325-9419
Fax: 570-325-9449

On November 8, 2011, Joseph J. Matika was elected as the nineteenth Judge to serve on the bench of the Court of Common Pleas of Carbon County. Judge Matika began his duties as judge after being sworn in on January 2, 2012. Judge Matika was retained for a second term commencing in January 2022.

Judge Matika is a 1980 graduate of Panther Valley High School. He furthered his education at King’s College in Wilkes-Barre where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Criminal Justice and Government. Judge Matika obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) Degree from the University of Bridgeport School of Law in Bridgeport, Connecticut in June 1987.

Judge Matika served as Assistant District Attorney from 1994-2011. Additionally, prior to taking the bench, he was a sole practitioner from 1988 until 2000. In 2001, Judge Matika along with Attorney Joseph Velitsky established the law firm of Velitsky and Matika in Summit Hill where for 12 years they maintained a general practice of law. He has also held many solicitorships throughout Carbon and Schuylkill counties over the years.

Judge Matika handles a variety of civil, criminal and orphan’s court matters along with Children & Youth and Domestic Relations cases. Judge Matika also presides over the two treatment courts and has been doing so since the inception of Veterans Treatment Court in 2017.