The official press release on the court's website is:
SANTA ANA—Associate Justice Raymond J. Ikola of the California Court of Appeal, Fourth Appellate District, Division Three will retire on July 1, 2021 after a distinguished 47-year legal career, including 25 as a member of the California judiciary.
When Justice Ikola first shared his retirement plans with Presiding Justice Kathleen O’Leary, she said her first reaction was “please say you’re kidding.” “Justice Ikola’s retirement will be an enormous loss to the court. His trial experience both as a lawyer and a judge coupled with his exceptional intellectual ability made him the consummate appellate court justice.”
The law was not Justice Ikola’s first calling. A Michigan native, Justice Ikola received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. He then completed his doctorate in electrophysics at the Polytechnic Institute of New York University while working as a research engineer at RCA Laboratories.
Science’s loss was the law’s gain when Justice Ikola moved to California and obtained his juris doctor from the University of Hastings in 1974. A renowned trial attorney, Justice Ikola practiced civil litigation in Orange County as an associate and then partner with Wenke, Evans & Ikola (and predecessor firms) from 1974 to 1987, a partner with Hufstedler, Kaus & Beardsley (and predecessor firms) from 1987 to 1990, and as a partner with Snell & Wilmer LLP from 1990 to 1995.
Justice Ikola was appointed to the Orange County Superior Court in November 1995 by Governor Pete Wilson. He enjoyed stints on the civil panel, the high impact trial team, the appellate division of the superior court, and the complex civil litigation panel. He presided as supervising judge of the civil panel in 2000.
In December 2002, Governor Gray Davis appointed Justice Ikola to the appellate bench, where he has served with honor ever since. In addition to the daily work of deciding cases, Justice Ikola contributed to the judicial branch through his membership on the Court Technology Advisory Committee to the California Judicial Council (2005 to 2011), the Appellate Advisory Committee to the California Judicial Council (2008 to 2016, chair 2013-2016), the Civil Jury Instruction Advisory Committee to the California Judicial Council (2009 to 2018), and the Appellate Practice Curriculum Committee for the California Center for Judicial Education and Research (chair, 2015-2016).
Associate Justice Richard Fybel aptly commented, “The Bar, litigants and the judiciary have benefitted from Justice Ikola’s excellent opinions, powerful analytical ability, extensive knowledge of the law, fairness and collegiality.”
Throughout his career, Justice Ikola has also been active in the legal community, participating in a variety of professional organizations and frequently lecturing for the purpose of providing continuing legal education. Justice Ikola was the recipient of numerous awards, including “Judge of the Year” in 2000, 2001, 2010, 2014, and 2015 (as selected by various bar associations).
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