Who is Judge Driscoll from Pudd'nhead Wilson and what is their importance?

Judge Driscoll is a wealthy man and Dawson's Landing's chief citizen. He never had any children of his own, so when Percy dies and the judge inherits his son, the judge and his wife are thrilled to have a child. Judge Driscoll adores Tom, but he becomes frustrated when Tom doesn't finish college and develops a gambling problem. He often threatens to write Tom out of his will, causing Tom to find other avenues to pay off his gambling debts. When Tom learns that he is actually Chambers, the son of a slave, he is afraid of what might happen if his uncle learns the truth. Roxana puts Tom in a position where he has to tell his uncle part of the truth, but he refuses and attempts to steal from him instead. When his uncle catches him, Tom kills the only man who has ever treated him kindness.