The founding members of the Staten Island Hispanic Bar Association held their inaugural meeting at the Law Office of Patrick Parrotta on Staten Island on Thursday, May 16. Those attending included, left to right, Andres Casas, an assistant district attorney in Staten Island; Michael Rosas, a partner at Rosas and Cirigliano; Marlene Vasquez, a staff attorney with the Legal Aid Society; Ken Gonzalez, a partner at Merlino and Gonzalez; Criminal Court Judge Raymond Rodriguez; Manuel Ortega, a solo practitioner; Patrick Parrotta, a solo practitioner; Robinson Iglesias, a solo practitioner; Biju Koshy, a solo practitioner; and Scott Higgins, an assistant district attorney in Staten Island.

The organization plans on ratifying its bylaws and mission statement this summer and holding elections in the fall.