The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against the Mississippi Senate, accusing the legislative body of discriminatory employment practices. The lawsuit alleges that a Black attorney, Kristie Metcalfe, was paid significantly less than her white colleagues for performing the same job.
Metcalfe worked as a staff attorney for the Mississippi Senate's Legislative Services Office from December 2011 to November 2019. During her tenure, she was the only Black attorney on staff, while the office had employed only white attorneys for over three decades prior to her hiring.
According to the lawsuit, Metcalfe's starting salary was $55,000, while her white counterparts were paid between $95,550 and $121,800. Despite her experience and qualifications, Metcalfe did not receive a raise when her colleagues did, resulting in a significant pay gap.
The lawsuit also highlighted an instance where the Senate hired a white male attorney in December 2018 and set his salary at $101,500, which was substantially higher than what Metcalfe was earning at the time, despite both attorneys having similar levels of experience and responsibilities.
Metcalfe raised concerns about the pay disparity to then-Sen. Terry Burton, who chaired the Rules Committee responsible for setting staff salaries. However, her request to rectify the wage gap was denied, leading her to resign from her position approximately 11 months later.
The lawsuit underscores the importance of addressing racial disparities in the workplace and upholding equal pay practices. The current governor and lieutenant governor of Mississippi, both Republicans, declined to comment on the pending litigation.
