Judge publication first by value (10)

I believe the answer is:

magistrate

'judge' is the definition.
('magistrate' can be a synonym of 'judge')

'publication first by value' is the wordplay.
'publication' becomes 'mag' (abbreviation for magazine).
'first' becomes 'ist' (**).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'value' becomes 'rate' ('rate' can be a synonym of 'value').
'mag'+'ist'+'rate'='MAGISTRATE'

(Other definitions for magistrate that I've seen before include "Law enforcer" , "Court official" , "Justice of the peace" , "Court officer" , "your worship" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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