Until the arrival of the Sisters of St. Anne in the summer of the following year, he worked single-handedly, raising funds, supervising the construction and the hospital, and tending to his congregation.

Judge and his fellow missionaries often faced severe challenges brought on by the unforgiving environment, including cold, strong rivers and seas, sickness and food shortages.

Judge's humanitarian work became known due to the writings of Jack London, whose health and possibly life were saved by the priest.

London's gums became swollen, leading to the loss of his four front teeth, a constant gnawing pain affected his abdomen and leg muscles, and his face was stricken with sores.

He is played by Clive Geraghty in the TG4 series An Klondike, which, in addition to also portraying him as older than the real Judge, changes his nationality to Irish and presents him as establishing a church and hospital in the fictional town of Dominion Creek before dying in 1898 instead of 1899.