DOJ accuses Mississippi Senate of pay discrimination against Black staff attorney


A Black staff attorney working for the Mississippi State Senate was paid only half of what her White colleagues were making despite having similar job duties, the Department of Justice alleged Friday. Photo courtesy Mississippi State Legislature

Nov. 8 (UPI) -- A Black attorney who formerly worked on the staff of the Republican-controlled Mississippi State Senate was the target of illegal racial discrimination, the Department o Justice alleged Friday.

In a complaint filed Friday in the Southern District of Mississippi, federal prosecutors alleged that Kristie Metcalfe was paid "significantly less" than every other staff attorney in the Senate's Legislative Services Office -- all of whom are White -- despite having essentially the same responsibilities.

Metcalfe was the first non-White attorney hired by the LSO in 34 years, the DOJ said. Staffers' duties include legal services such as drafting bills for use by all members of the Senate.

"Discriminatory employment practices, like paying a Black employee less than their White colleagues for the same work, are not only unfair, they are unlawful," Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division said in a statement.

"The Black employee at issue in this lawsuit was paid about half the salary of her White colleagues in violation of federal law. This lawsuit makes clear that race-based pay discrimination will not be tolerated in our economy," she added.
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The suit claims Metcalfe resigned following eight years on the job after her requests for a pay increase were denied then-Senate Rules Committee Chairman Terry Burton and other committee members.

Federal officials say they are seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Metcalfe as well as an injunction barring the Mississippi Senate from further alleged pay discrimination.

Republican Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann's and Gov. Tate Reeves' offices did not immediately respond to a request for comment sought by The (Jackson, Miss.) Clarion Ledger.