Small dissenting group following court proceedings (7)
I believe the answer is:
faction
'small dissenting group' is the definition.
'faction' can be an answer for 'group'. I'm not certain of the 'small dissenting' bit.
'court proceedings' is the wordplay.
'court' becomes 'f' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'proceedings' becomes 'action' (action is a kind of proceedings).
'f'+'action'='FACTION'
'following' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for faction that I've seen before include "Seeing political dissenters" , "band" , "Clique that seeks power often through intrigue" , "part of party" , "group of rebels" .)