Crossword Genius

Start of court proceedings? (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

service

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This clue might be a double definition.

'start of' is the first definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?

'court proceedings?' is the second definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see an association between them that I don't see?

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for service that I've seen before include "navy, for example" , "Armed force - assistance" , "Set of matching crockery" , "See 11" , "Act of assistance; ceremony" .)

I've seen this clue in The Sun.
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