The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi State Senate, accusing it of discriminating against a Black former staff attorney by paying her significantly less than her white colleagues for performing the same work. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the Senate violated federal civil rights laws by providing Kristie Metcalfe, a former attorney in the Legislative Services Office (LSO), with a salary roughly half that of her white counterparts.
The complaint centers on alleged racial discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, and religion. Title VII specifically bars discriminatory practices related to compensation, among other employment practices.
“Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful,” said Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who heads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy.”
According to the Justice Department, Metcalfe worked for the LSO from 2011 to 2019, during which time she was consistently paid far less than her white colleagues, despite having the same job responsibilities. The LSO is a nonpartisan office that provides legal services to all members of the Mississippi State Senate, including drafting bills and offering legal guidance. The complaint further notes that, prior to Metcalfe’s hiring, the LSO employed only white attorneys for over three decades.
The lawsuit claims that the pay disparity began when Metcalfe was hired in 2011, when her starting salary was significantly lower than any other LSO attorney in more than 30 years. Just one month after Metcalfe’s hire, all other attorneys in the office, all of whom were white, received substantial raises, further widening the pay gap. Over the next several years, Metcalfe’s pay remained far below that of her colleagues, despite her having the same responsibilities.
The situation escalated in 2019, when the LSO hired a white attorney with no prior legislative experience and a similar number of years in the legal field as Metcalfe, but at a salary far exceeding hers. According to the complaint, Metcalfe raised concerns about the pay disparity in a meeting with Senate officials, but her request for a salary adjustment was denied.
The Justice Department’s lawsuit seeks back pay, compensatory damages, and other forms of relief for Metcalfe, including injunctive relief to prevent further discriminatory practices. The department is also aiming to hold the Mississippi State Senate accountable for violating federal law by engaging in racial pay discrimination.
In a statement, Assistant Attorney General Clarke emphasized that the Justice Department is committed to ensuring fair and equitable treatment for all workers. “Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers,” she said.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about racial pay disparities in both public and private sector employment. The Department of Justice has been increasingly active in challenging systemic racial discrimination in the workplace, and this lawsuit is part of broader efforts to ensure compliance with Title VII.
As the case moves forward, the Mississippi State Senate will be required to respond to the allegations and potentially face significant legal and financial consequences if found guilty of discrimination.
