John Czarnecki

Toledo attorney John Czarnecki passed away on January 9, 2021 surrounded by his family and his two dogs. For over four decades, John was a preeminent and widely-admired figure in Toledo’s legal community. An indispensable resource to colleagues and a mentor to young lawyers, particularly those interested in the practice of criminal law, John shared generously of his time and expertise. In his own practice, he vigorously protected free speech and those the powerful often disregard, always placing fair-play, integrity, and the faithful practice of law above all other considerations. He was widely considered an expert in anti-trust violations as well as health care, tax, and mail fraud. As a newly-minted lawyer, John worked on the landmark 1974 lawsuit that exposed serious, widespread abuse against inmates at Lima State Prison and helped transform how society thinks about the treatment and incarceration of the mentally ill. From 1975 to 1977 John taught Evidence as an Associate Professor of Law at The University of Toledo. In 1983, John argued before the Supreme Court of the United States in Marshall v. Lonberger and in 2003, along with his colleague Jerry Phillips, John won the largest class action law suit to-date against the state of Ohio for misuse of procedures relating to driver’s license reinstatement. John received many awards for his professional accomplishments. The one he prized most is The Order of the Heel, awarded to him in 1991. Given annually by the Junior Bar Association, the award recognizes a member of the Senior Bar Association who has given the most unselfishly of his time and expertise in support of the next generation of attorneys. In 2013, John was named “Toledo Best Lawyers’ 2013 Lawyer of the Year Criminal Defense: White Collar,” and in 2011, John was named “Toledo Best Lawyer of the Year 2011 Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar.” For over twenty years he was recognized by his peers in annual editions of The Best Lawyers in America for his work in criminal defense and first amendment law, and he was also listed in annual editions of Ohio Super Lawyers. John became a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers and a life member of the Sixth Circuit Judicial Conference in 1975. Before beginning his practice, John obtained an undergraduate degree in 1968 and a law degree in 1972 from the University of Toledo, and in 2007 he received that institution’s Distinguished Alumnus Award. As a law student, John served as Articles Editor of The University of Toledo Law Review, and after graduation he was honored to serve as Law Clerk to the Honorable Nicholas J. Walinski, U.S. District Judge, Northern District of Ohio (1972-1974). In John, Judge Walinksi found fertile ground for the principle that the law protects all of us and must always be applied equally, to the most exalted as well as the lowliest. John liked to quote Robert Bolt’s A Man for All Seasons: “When the last law was down, and the Devil turned around on you—where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat?” A man without illusions about the world or himself, John nevertheless refused to ever stop fighting for a just system. The reasons for John’s towering reputation were not entirely professional. John was also well known and much loved for his irreverent wit, courage, and practical life-experience. As a young man, John put himself through Central Catholic High School by delivering pizzas and playing a winning game of pool and poker, often staked by those with a little extra money who knew they could count on John to make the take quite a bit larger. By 1967, John had a family to support, but still managed to put himself through undergraduate school and law school by working a full-time job and attending classes at night. Before becoming a lawyer, John worked at Surface Combustion and as an iron worker. Legendary among his friends and family for his energy, intellectual brilliance, and prodigious mechanical skills, John could spend all day negotiating complex legal matters, then come home at night to single-handedly install a new furnace or build his daughter a coffee table. He spent many a blisteringly hot Saturday helping a friend put on a new roof or machining a hard-to-find replacement part for someone else’s car restoration project. Amid all his demanding professional obligations, John raised two daughters. Each and every day of the week, he called to see how their school day had gone and he never missed their scheduled Sundays together. No matter what case he had pending, or household task he had to accomplish, John was there to take his daughters to the park, play long games of Uno, and eat lingering breakfasts at Denny’s. A fiercely independent intellect and spirit, John gave his daughters the great gift of taking their ideas seriously, and he made their formal and informal education a top priority. Most Sundays began with a stop at Thackeray’s for The New York Times and an open invitation to choose any book that sparked their interest. John and Sue Bedra, his beloved wife of 32 years, were devoted animal-lovers. They rescued and spoiled many dogs over the years, taking each one the way they appeared, usually washing up on the doorstep with a tough history only to realize they’d found a dog’s heaven on earth. John and Sue’s favorite vacation destination was Key West, Florida, where they enjoyed the wandering cats and roosters, the sunset shows at Mallory Square, and the leisurely drive down the Keys from Miami, including stops for grouper sandwiches at the 7 Mile Grill and a few trinkets at the roadside flea markets. John is survived by his wife Sue Bedra, his daughters Carrie (Michael) Craun and Amy (Patrick) Gustine, and his three grandchildren, Anna, John, and Andrew. He will be missed beyond measure. Due to Covid-19, a memorial service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, gifts in John’s name can be made to local animal rescue organizations or Advocates for Basic Legal Equality in Toledo, Ohio.