Rev. Jesse Jackson, who epitomizes public justice, stole the show at the Public Justice Foundation's annual gala fundraiser held Tuesday night, July 17, at the Field Museum in Chicago. Rev. Jackson, who was the guest of Chicago attorneys Antonio Romanucci and Stephan Blandin offered dinner with himself as an auction item, and ended up raising $61,000 for the organization. Winning bidders were local attorney Larry Rogers Sr. and Robert Johnson (a forensic economist from Los Altos, Calif.). Larry's bid was $31,000, and Johnson's was $30,000--Rev. Jackson said that he'd accept both the winning and "losing" bids. Johnson is the first winner to take advantage of his good fortune: he dined the next evening at Chicago's hip restaurant, Gibson's, with Rev. Jackson and Romanucci.

Rev. Jesse Jackson (above, left) with Antonio Romanucci, at Gibson's