Crossword Genius

Legal impediment lets Pope off (8)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

estoppel

'legal impediment' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'lets pope off' is the wordplay.
'off' indicates an anagram.
'lets'+'pope'='letspope'
'letspope' is an anagram of 'ESTOPPEL'.

(Other definitions for estoppel that I've seen before include "Legal principle" , "bar" , "Conclusive admission" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times and The Sunday Times.
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