Monica Pechous has received the 2021 Fleischman Family Award for Excellence in Criminal Clinic. Monica, a graduate of Chicago-Kent College of Law, and three of her classmates were honored for their diligent work in helping to successfully petition for the compassionate release of an elderly inmate who feared contracting COVID-19 while in federal custody in Duluth, Minnesota. Although he had five and a half years remaining in his 14-year sentence, the judge granted a supervisory release.

“The [client] got a real dream team,” said Clinical Professor Richard Kling, who directs the clinic. “These four folks, they were spectacular. They had initiative, they worked tirelessly. They’re supposed to put in 16 hours a week, and I frequently had to kick them out after 20–25 hours,” he added.

Read the Chicago-Kent College of Law news release here.