Fool judge, swallowing first lawbreaker's claim (10)

I believe the answer is:

asseverate

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'claim' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'fool judge swallowing first lawbreaker's' is the wordplay.
'fool' becomes 'ass' (both can mean a stupid person).
'judge' becomes 'rate' (rating is a kind of judging).
'swallowing' is an insertion indicator.
'first lawbreaker's' becomes 'eve' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'ass'+'rate'='assrate'
'assrate' enclosing 'eve' is 'ASSEVERATE'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for asseverate that I've seen before include "Solemnly say" , "Solemnly declare" , "Claim" , "State categorically" , "Swear" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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