Put up before the court (5)
I believe the answer is:
erect
'put up' is the definition.
('erect' can be a synonym of 'put up')
'before the court' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (usually literary).
'the court' becomes 'ct'.
'ere'+'ct'='ERECT'
(Other definitions for erect that I've seen before include "Build - straight up" , "Found" , "Crete (anag)" , "Construct - perpendicular" , "Upright or vertical" .)