Janet Varnell Named Public Justice President
For Janet Varnell, serving as the new president of the Public Justice Board of Directors has nothing to do with her credentials or expertise. In fact, she doesn’t want any of the focus to be on her. She’d prefer all the attention to go to the staff attorneys and members doing the hard work of challenging injustices in courtrooms across the country.
“It is true that I was a lawyer doing important work before I engaged with Public Justice, but the truly worthwhile work that brings me joy was inspired by the courageous hearts and dazzling minds in this room,” Varnell said in a July 2024 speech. “Public Justice is not just an organization; it is a movement. Together, we amplify each other’s efforts. Public Justice is a force multiplier.”
Before she assumed the role of president, Varnell developed her own passion and commitment to justice throughout her career. A graduate of the Florida State College of Law, Varnell took her first legal job at a defense firm in Alabama. It didn’t take long for her to realize that spending long hours working on litigation for large corporations was not who she wanted to be fighting for.
“We were on the other side of the kinds of problems we work to combat every day now,” she recalled. “I would be looking at these cases, seeing the wrongs, and I would be outraged. I’d think, ‘The plaintiff lawyers over there are doing what I think is right. This case is meritorious and justified, but here I am, working ungodly hours for ideas I despise.’ It wasn’t consistent with my values.”
Determined to align her career with her principles, Varnell left the firm to seek out work that resonated with her sense of justice. She found a mentor who guided her into consumer protection litigation. Now, her Florida firm, Varnell & Warwick, focuses on consumer class actions involving the day-to-day transactions that impact average people from mortgages and rent, to insurance and healthcare costs. She is very determined to develop the laws that protect military consumers and has more cases on their behalf than many JAG officers.
Varnell has been active with Public Justice since 2004 and has been a longstanding board member prior to her election as president, giving her a front-row seat to the impactful work Public Justice undertakes. Over the course of her affiliation, she has taken on and won several major cases in partnership with the organization across the spectrum of public interest.
One such case was the 2012 shooting death of Joshua Salvato. Alongside then-Board President Ted Leopold and former board member Tony Romanucci, Varnell sued the Marion County, Fla. Sheriff’s Office and two deputies. Joshua, an unarmed young man, was brutally slammed to the ground and shot while backing away during an investigatory stop. He was then tased 12 times while handcuffed and bleeding to death. A federal jury awarded $2.3 million in restitution to his family in 2014.
In 2019, Varnell & Warwick’s Home Depot v. Jackson class action case received a U.S. Supreme Court opinion in their favor. The lawsuit alleged that Home Depot and Carolina Water Systems Inc. deceived people into buying an overpriced water treatment system through false claims about water safety and finance terms. The legal team which included Past President Dan Bryson and other public justice members and the able appellate assistance of Public Justice led by former Executive Director Paul Bland, successfully fought to keep the case in state court, where stronger consumer protection laws prevail. Justice Thomas wrote the 5-4 decision in favor of Jackson, marking a significant victory.
Experiences like these are what fuel Varnell’s commitment to Public Justice. “Even though we face myriad threats, the good news is that at Public Justice, we have the power to shape the world,” she said. “We can fight corruption with compassion, greed with generosity. All the problems we face can be solved if we work together.”
Taking on the role of President of Public Justice’s Board of Directors, Varnell aims to raise the organization’s profile and create a more dynamic and engaging committee structure for board members and supporters. Her goal is to lead with positivity, ensuring that Public Justice continues its mission and legacy of achieving social, environmental and economic justice.
“Everybody that works for Public Justice, everybody on the board, and all of our members have talents, skills, and strengths—both natural and developed,” she said. “When we are the best versions of ourselves and meet the right opportunities, it’s magic. That’s my goal: to focus our talents, skills, and strengths on the same projects. Together, we can be transformative.”
In closing her speech, Varnell delivered a powerful message: “Resist the urge to climatize yourself to this state of constant fear. Defy all of it and level the *&$k up! Rise to this occasion. Because this is not something any one of us can do alone; it is something we must do together.”
