JACKSON, Miss. — The U.S. Justice Department has initiated a lawsuit asserting that the Mississippi Senate engaged in discriminatory practices against a Black attorney, paying her significantly less than her white counterparts for equivalent work. The claim centers on the disparity in compensation and highlights ongoing issues regarding equality in employment within government positions.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke, who leads the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, emphasized that such practices of paying a Black employee less than their white colleagues are not only inequitable but are also in violation of federal law. The lawsuit reflects a broader commitment to uphold civil rights and ensure fair treatment in the workplace.
The attorney at the center of the lawsuit, Kristie Metcalfe, served as a staff attorney for the Mississippi Senate’s Legislative Services Office from December 2011 until November 2019. This office is responsible for drafting legislation and addressing legal inquiries on behalf of the 52 senators. For a significant period, the office employed only white attorneys, with Metcalfe being the first Black attorney onboard in over three decades.
According to the lawsuit, Metcalfe began her role with a salary of $55,000, while her white colleagues received compensation ranging from $95,550 to $121,800. Following her hiring, those colleagues received notable pay increases within a month, elevating their salaries to between $114,000 and $136,416, while Metcalfe’s pay remained stagnant without any raise.
Tate Reeves, currently the governor, served as the lieutenant governor throughout most of Metcalfe’s tenure in the Senate. Despite requests for commentary regarding the lawsuit, the governor’s office, under the current secretary of the Senate Amanda Frusha White, declined to provide insights, stating a policy against commenting on ongoing legal matters.
The lawsuit revealed that Metcalfe consistently earned between $40,000 and $60,000 less than the lowest-paid white colleague throughout her employment. Furthermore, in December 2018, a new white attorney was hired with a salary set at $101,500, which was a significant $24,335 higher than Metcalfe’s compensation, even though they both had eight years of legal experience, albeit the new hire had not yet worked for the Legislature.
Metcalfe raised concerns regarding the salary inequality with then-Senator Terry Burton, a Republican and the Senate president pro tempore at the time. Burton, who chaired the Rules Committee responsible for establishing staff salaries, ultimately declined her request to adjust her pay to match that of her newly hired white colleague. Following this rejection, Metcalfe decided to resign approximately 11 months later, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals advocating for equitable treatment in the workplace.