ˈɪkjuːɾə wʌz nˈɑːmᵻnˌeɪɾᵻd tə ðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts kˈoːɹt ʌv ɐpˈiːlz fɚðə nˈaɪnθ sˈɜːkɪt baɪ pɹˈɛzɪdənt dʒˈɔːɹdʒ dˈʌbəljˌuː. bˈʊʃ ˌɔn fˈɛbɹuːˌɛɹi ˈeɪt, tˈuː θˈaʊzənd sˈɪks, tə fˈɪl ðə sˈiːt vˈeɪkeɪɾᵻd baɪ dʒˈʌdʒ dʒˈeɪmz ˈɑːɹ. bɹˈaʊnɪŋ, hˌuː ɐsˈuːmd sˈiːnjɚ stˈæɾəs ɪn tˈuː θˈaʊzənd.
Ikuta was nominated to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit by President George W. Bush on February 8, 2006, to fill the seat vacated by Judge James R. Browning, who assumed senior status in 2000.