A nice magistrate disoriented when things become urgent (4,7,4)

I believe the answer is:

race against time

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'things become urgent' is the definition.
I know nothing about this answer so I cannot tell whether this works.

'a nice magistrate disoriented' is the wordplay.
'disoriented' is an anagram indicator.
'a'+'nice'+'magistrate'='anicemagistrate'
'anicemagistrate' anagrammed gives 'RACE AGAINST TIME'.

'when' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for race against time that I've seen before include "speed the essence here" , "in a hurry" , "crisis?" , "rushed job?" , "neck-and-neck situation" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.

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