Judge Ford's Character Arc.

Judge Ford is the first black and the first woman to be elected to a judgeship in the state. Forty-two-year-old Judge Ford is tall, impeccably dressed, and wears her graying hair short. She drives a maroon Mercedes and is the biggest tipper in Sunset Towers. Beneath her cool, professional demeanor, she is a fair and caring person. Her mother and father worked for the Westings; Sam Westing paid for her education.

In the end, Judge Ford hands over Sandy's inheritance and helps finance Chris' education. She also arranges for Jake Wexler to be appointed consultant to the governor's inquiry panel for a state lottery. Her generosity, something we didn't expect, is a pleasant surprise. The novel's final chapter also reveals that Judge Ford has just been appointed to the United State Supreme Court.