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Ninth Circuit Mediators

Circuit mediators work solely on cases for the Court of Appeals. All are experienced attorneys with an average of 25 years in law, mediation, and government. They’re trained in appellate mediation, negotiation, and Ninth Circuit’s practices and procedures. As generalists, they handle cases on any subject.


Stephen M. Liacouras, Chief Circuit Mediator

Stephen became Chief Circuit Mediator in 2018 after 17 years as a Circuit Mediator. Before joining the mediation office, he worked as a civil litigator and as a Supervising Ninth Circuit Staff Attorney. Stephen has taught negotiation at UC Hastings Law and volunteers as a mediator. He earned his law degree from Yale Law School and his bachelor’s degree in History from UC Berkeley.

Email: Stephen_Liacouras@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7915

Roxane Ashe, Circuit Mediator

Roxane has been a Circuit Mediator since 1998 and has helped with over two thousand appellate cases. She also works as the main mediator for employment disputes in the Ninth Circuit. Before joining the mediation office, Roxane worked as a Supervising Ninth Circuit Motions Attorney and a civil litigation attorney. She earned her law degree and bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee.

Email: Roxane_Ashe@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7911

Sasha M. Cummings, Circuit Mediator

Sasha joined the court with 20 years of experience as a partner at a law firm, a trial attorney, and a mediator. She has also worked as a Judge Pro Tem and Settlement Conference Officer. Sasha teaches law at USF School of Law and is involved with the UC Hastings Foundation. She earned her law degree from UC Hastings College of the Law and her bachelor’s degree from Wesleyan University in Connecticut.

Email: Sasha_M_Cummings@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7910

Paula Raffaelli, Circuit Mediator

Before joining the court’s mediation office, Paula worked as Deputy Director of Workplace Relations for the Ninth Circuit, where she helped resolve workplace disputes. She also worked at UC Berkeley, resolving disputes involving students, staff, and faculty. Paula clerked for Ninth Circuit Judge Morgan Christen and worked as a staff attorney. Paula earned her law degree from UC Law San Francisco and her bachelor’s degree from UC Santa Cruz.

Email: Paula_Raffaelli@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7909

Steve Saltiel, Circuit Mediator

Before joining the court in 2019, Steve was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of California. He also served as a Senior Litigation Counsel and Deputy Chief of the Civil Division. Steve is a volunteer mediator for the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. He earned his law degree from Benjamin Cardozo School of Law and his undergraduate degree from George Washington University.

Email: Steven_Saltiel@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7906

Kyungah “Kay” Suk, Circuit Mediator

Kay worked as a mediator in private practice and with the California Department of Fair Employment and Housing. She also served as a Deputy Attorney General in California and an Administrative Law Judge. Kay earned her law degree from UC Davis and her bachelor’s and music degrees from Oberlin College.

Email: Kay_Suk@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7901

Jonathan Westen, Circuit Mediator

Before joining the mediation office, Jonathan worked as a Supervising Staff Attorney for the Ninth Circuit. He has also been a litigator at a national law firm and serves as a volunteer mediator. Jonathan earned his law degree from Berkeley Law School and his undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. He was also a Fulbright Scholar in Ghana before law school.

Email: Jonathan_Westen@ca9.uscourts.gov

Phone: (415) 355-7971

Last updated February 5, 2026