Judge joining outside court as meeting place (8)
I believe the answer is:
junction
'meeting place' is the definition.
'junction' can be an answer for 'meeting' (I've seen this before). I am not certain of the 'place' bit.
'judge joining outside court' is the wordplay.
'judge' becomes 'j' (abbreviation for judge).
'joining' becomes 'union' (I have seen 'A joining ' mean 'union' so perhaps 'joining' could also mean 'union').
'outside' is an insertion indicator.
'court' becomes 'ct'.
'union' enclosing 'ct' is 'unction'.
'j'+'unction'='JUNCTION'
'as' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for junction that I've seen before include "Where roads meet" , "Meeting point" , "Place where railway lines meet and join" , "Intersection" , "Box ---, no-waiting road area" .)