Tell it to the judge! (4)
I believe the answer is:
plea
'tell it to the judge' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)
This is all the clue.
(Other definitions for plea that I've seen before include "Defence - excuse - appeal" , "Petition or supplication" , "Excuse - pretext" , "Appeal - with bargaining?" , "Answer made by the accused to the charge" .)