Disturbances that may be skilfully handled in court (7)
I believe the answer is:
rackets
'disturbances' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being plural nouns.
Maybe you can see an association between them that I can't see?
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for rackets that I've seen before include "rows" , "Dodges" , "seen in court or in the press" , "that are often slammed in court" , "illegal activities" .)