Judd is most well-known for his role in the Massie Affair, in which he commuted the sentence of three people convicted of manslaughter in the killing of Josef Kahahawai.

As Governor of Hawai'i, his notable contributions included the establishment of public parks and numerous playgrounds, as well as reducing state spending.

[6] Herbert Hoover appointed Judd to succeed Wallace Rider Farrington as the seventh Governor of Hawaii Territory from 1929 to 1934.

A source of controversy during his tenure, Judd commuted the sentence of Grace Hubbard Fortescue, socialite and niece of Alexander Graham Bell, convicted in the territorial courts of manslaughter in the death of a local man, Joseph Kahahawai.

Hiring defense lawyer Clarence Darrow, Fortescue's case was known as the Massie Affair, a focus of nationwide newspaper coverage.