Unlocking Justice: Solving Cold Cases and the Stories Behind Them

Matt Braker has served as a prosecutor with the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office for over 25 years, bringing justice and compassion to some of the county's most challenging cases. As the head of the Homicide Unit, he oversees all homicide prosecutions, the Cold Case Unit, and Officer-Involved Shootings.

A two-time recipient of the prestigious Napolean J. Menard Trial Advocacy Award, Matt was most recently honored in 2017 for successfully prosecuting three jail guards in the high-profile murder case of mentally ill inmate Michael Tyree.

Matt earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Washington and graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law in 1992. He and his wife, Cyd, reside in San Jose and are proud parents of two grown sons, Bill and Max.

Beyond the courtroom, Matt has been an engaged and passionate member of the Rotary Club of San Jose since 2015 and will proudly assume the role of Club President this July.

Join us for a captivating presentation by Matt Braker as he takes us inside the world of cold case investigations. He'll highlight the story of a 1974 Palo Alto murder and the groundbreaking forensic techniques that finally brought justice decades later.

Matt will also discuss the formation of the Cold Case Unit within the Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office, sharing insights on the unit's successes and how modern technology is transforming the way old cases are solved. Don't miss this compelling and thought-provoking talk!