What is Judge Ford's connection with the Westing family ?

In the book The Westing Game the
potential heirs of the Westing estate have been gathered together for the reading of the
will.  In the will Mr. Westing indicates a game of clues that will help to reveal the
true heir to the Westing fortune. 

Judge Ford is one of
the potential heirs.  When she was a child her mother was employed by Mr. Westing.  Mr.
Westing had taught her how to play chess. 

Mr. Westing
also used the judge's skills in order to get her to perform certain activities in the
game, without her knowledge, that would present clues to the game's
participants.