Tried to listen with attention, like a judge (9)
I believe the answer is:
earwigged
'tried to listen' is the definition.
(eavesdropped)
'with attention like a judge' is the wordplay.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'attention' becomes 'ear' (have the ear of someone is to have their attention).
'like a judge' becomes 'wigged' (wearing a wig).
'ear' next to 'wigged' is 'EARWIGGED'.
(Other definitions for earwigged that I've seen before include "Overheard" , "Illicitly picked up" , "Listened" , "Eavesdropped" .)