Born in Cleveland, Ohio, Boyko is a second-generation Ukrainian American.

He was a judge on the Parma Municipal Court in 1993, and was an executive vice president/general counsel for Copy America, Inc. from 1994 to 1995.

He was a judge of the Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas from 1996 to 2004.

On July 22, 2004, Boyko was nominated by President George W. Bush to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio vacated by Paul Ramon Matia.

Boyko was confirmed by the United States Senate on November 21, 2004, and received his commission on January 3, 2005.