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 dedication 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 event gathered Assistant District Attorneys and prosecutors from across New York as well as civic leaders, public servants, attorneys, students, and faculty from Pace Haub Law.
During her speech at the ceremony, Lang spoke about integrity in prosecutorial work: “so many of the most excellent prosecutors in our city and our country are being truly tested.” She added that true prosecutorial excellence involves speaking truth to power, handling difficult cases, and “operating not just with integrity, but within the bounds of law, with decency and civility.”
Lang also discussed procedural justice as key to building public trust. She stated: “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. When individuals feel seen and heard, even when outcomes are difficult, trust in institutions grows.”
Robert S. Tucker commented on Lang’s contributions: “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 shared experiences from her career that shaped her commitment to fairness—including working with victims’ families and developing a course that brought together prosecutors and incarcerated individuals—and described ongoing efforts as Inspector General to improve justice in New York’s correctional system through changes such as revised drug testing practices and reduced use of solitary confinement.
Appointed by Governor Kathy Hochul in October 2021 as New York State’s 11th Inspector General, Lang leads statewide investigations into fraud, corruption, and abuse within state government. Under her leadership, initiatives have expanded transparency through technology improvements while strengthening protections for vulnerable groups.
The Robert S. Tucker Prize for Prosecutorial Excellence is given annually by a jury made up of former prosecutors and Haub Law faculty members to recognize significant contributions in criminal prosecution practice. Previous recipients include Special Narcotics Prosecutor Bridget G. Brennan; Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark; Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez; former New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood; Richard A. Brown (late Queens District Attorney); among others.
