On Thursday, February 27, 2026, the Toledo Bar Association filed a complaint against attorney Thomas A. Yoder with the Board of Professional Conduct of the Supreme Court of Ohio. The complaint, designated as Case No. 2026-005, alleges misconduct stemming from Yoder’s representation of Paul Mikolayczyk in an easement case in Sandusky County.
The grievance originates from a case, Baber v. Mikolayczyk, where Yoder’s client was sued by Matthew and Tara Baber over access to their landlocked property. Judge Jeremiah Ray presided over the case and later filed a grievance against Yoder, which is now at the center of the Toledo Bar Association’s complaint.
The complaint details a series of emails and filings by Yoder that the Toledo Bar Association deems inappropriate and in violation of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct. The emails, sent to Judge Ray’s judicial assistant, a local news reporter, and opposing counsel, protested the need for a pretrial conference and questioned the court’s handling of the case.
Specifically, the complaint cites instances where Yoder accused Judge Ray of defying the 12th District Court of Appeals and the Ohio Supreme Court, failing to review evidence, and fabricating findings. Yoder also repeatedly stated that the judge’s rulings defied logic and were incomprehensible.
In court filings, Yoder asserted that the Babers and their attorneys had filed a frivolous and false lawsuit and were committing fraud upon the court. He also accused the Sandusky County Common Pleas Court of being confused and defying higher court rulings.
The Toledo Bar Association alleges that Yoder’s conduct violated multiple provisions of the Ohio Rules of Professional Conduct, including engaging in undignified or discourteous conduct that is degrading to a tribunal, engaging in conduct intended to disrupt a tribunal, making extrajudicial statements that could prejudice an adjudicative proceeding, and making statements with reckless disregard as to their truth or falsity concerning the qualifications or integrity of a judicial officer.
This is not the first time Yoder has faced disciplinary action. The complaint notes that he was previously disciplined by the Ohio Supreme Court in Toledo Bar Assn. v. Yoder, 162 Ohio St.3d 140, 2020-Ohio-4775. In that case, Yoder was suspended from the practice of law for two years, with the final six months stayed, for making false and undignified statements about a magistrate, accusing the magistrate of lying, and engaging in misconduct toward opposing counsel.
The Toledo Bar Association is requesting that Yoder be disciplined pursuant to Rule V of the Rules for the Government of the Bar of Ohio.
A copy of the original filing can be found here.
