JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – The Justice Department (DOJ) filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Mississippi State Senate for alleged discrimination against a Black former staff attorney in its Legislative Services Office (LSO).

The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi, alleges that the Senate paid Kristie Metcalfe about half the salary of her white colleagues in violation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. 

According to the DOJ, Title VII is a federal statute that prohibits racial discrimination in compensation and other forms of employment discrimination on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin or religion.

“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 of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “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. Our work to eliminate race-based pay disparities is about promoting compliance with the law and promoting equity and fairness for all workers.”

The department alleges in the complaint that Metcalfe and the other attorneys had substantially the same job responsibilities, but she was paid less than these attorneys throughout her eight-year tenure.

The LSO is a non-partisan office that provides legal services, such as drafting bills, for all members of the Senate. In the 34 years prior to Metcalfe’s hire, investigators said the LSO employed only white attorneys.

Through this lawsuit, the department is seeking back pay and compensatory damages for Metcalfe, in addition to injunctive and other appropriate relief.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s Jackson Area Office investigated and attempted to resolve Metcalfe’s charge of discrimination before referring it to the Justice Department for litigation.