Unsuccessful incarceration judge covered-up (6)
I believe the answer is:
ailing
'unsuccessful' is the definition.
Both the definition and answer are adjectives. Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'incarceration judge covered-up' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'covered' could be 'in' (I've seen this in other clues) and 'in' is found in the answer.
This explanation may well be incorrect...
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ailing that I've seen before include "not doing very well" , "Ill" , "Troubled in mind or body" , "Sickly, poorly" , "In poor health" .)