The Impact of Pay Inequities on the Administration of Justice

Background

The Administratively Determined (AD) pay plan, which Assistant U.S. Attorneys (AUSAs) are subject to, creates a significant pay disparity between AUSAs and all other DOJ attorneys.

Problem

Aside from clear equity issues, the disparity negatively impacts recruitment and retention of the criminal prosecutors and civil attorneys most directly tasked with administering justice across our nation’s 94 federal judicial districts.

The current pay system over relies on the goodwill of AUSAs who are willing to take a pay cut to serve their country. This is unsustainable and places our U.S. Attorney Offices at a disadvantage in the recruitment and retention of qualified personnel. Without top talent our criminal justice system cannot adequately serve and protect the American people.

For a closer look at the data surrounding the pay disparity, please Download the Full Document.