Judge dined after second trial (4)
I believe the answer is:
rate
'judge' is the definition.
(I know that rate is a more specific form of the action appraise)
'dined after second trial' is the wordplay.
'dined' becomes 'ate' (I've seen this in another clue).
'after' says to put letters next to each other.
'second trial' becomes 'r' (2nd letter of 'trial').
'ate' put after 'r' is 'RATE'.
(Other definitions for rate that I've seen before include "Tear up in tempo" , "Regard" , "Estimate value of - speed" , "Adjudge" , "The percentage of a loan charged as interest" .)