Judges criticise deals every now and then (5)
I believe the answer is:
panel
'judges' is the definition.
'criticise deals every now and then' is the wordplay.
'criticise' becomes 'pan' (informal term meaning to criticise heavily).
'every now and then' means one should take alternating letters (letters selected at regular intervals).
The alternating letters of 'deals' are 'el'.
'pan'+'el'='PANEL'
(Other definitions for panel that I've seen before include "Group judging a contest" , "Jury members" , "Bordered rectangular area" , "Talk show group" , "Flat board; committee" .)