The Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University recognized New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang with the 2025 Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence during a ceremony held on September 30, 2025, at the university’s New York City campus.
Lucy Lang has served as New York State’s Inspector General since 2021. She was honored for her leadership in public sector investigations, her commitment to fairness and transparency, and her approach to accountability and reform.
“IG Lang represents the highest ideals of public service and prosecutorial excellence,” said Pace Haub Law Dean Horace E. Anderson Jr. “She has brought an innovative, principled, and compassionate approach to oversight, reform, and the responsible use of prosecutorial power. Her career is a model for our students and for all who seek to serve the cause of justice.”
Kristine Hamann, Executive Director of the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence and member of the Tucker Prize Jury, presented the award. The audience included Assistant District Attorneys and prosecutors from across New York as well as civic leaders, public servants, attorneys, students, and faculty from Pace Haub Law.
In her speech at the event, Lang spoke about integrity and fairness in prosecutorial work: “so many of the most excellent prosecutors in our city and our country are being truly tested.” She said true prosecutorial excellence means speaking truth to power and taking on difficult cases: “operating not just with integrity, but within the bounds of law, with decency and civility.”
Lang also addressed procedural justice: “The procedures used to make decisions must be fair and impartial, and the people who make those decisions must be respectful of the rights and dignity of all involved,” she said. “When individuals feel seen and heard, even when outcomes are difficult, trust in institutions grows.”
Robert S. Tucker commented on Lang’s role: “We need people in government, especially on the integrity side of government, who aren’t afraid to do the right thing. We should all be very grateful that we have a public servant like IG Lang at the helm.”
Lang described how early experiences working with victims’ families shaped her focus on fairness. She also mentioned creating a course that brought together prosecutors and incarcerated individuals as influential in shaping her professional perspective. As Inspector General she has led efforts such as changing drug testing practices in correctional facilities, reducing solitary confinement use, and exposing systemic abuses.
Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul in October 2021 as New York State’s eleventh Inspector General, Lang leads statewide investigations into fraud or abuse within state government offices. Under her direction there have been increased transparency measures as well as initiatives aimed at protecting vulnerable groups.
The Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence is awarded annually by a jury made up of former prosecutors along with Haub Law faculty members to honor significant contributions to criminal prosecution practice. Past recipients include Bridget G. Brennan (Special Narcotics Prosecutor), Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark along with her office staff members; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; former New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood; Richard A. Brown (late Queens DA); among others.
