Crossword Genius

Write without taking sides and, oddly, clinch approval from this judge, maybe (6)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

critic

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'this judge maybe' is the definition.
'critic' can be an answer for 'judge' (critic is a kind of judge). I am not sure about the remainder of the definition.

I don't understand how the remainder of the clue works.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for critic that I've seen before include "Newspaper reviewer" , "Reviewer of plays, films etc" , "One judges the merit of artistic works" , "Writer of reviews" , "Professional analyst of works of art" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish Times.
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