Cryptic crossword clue
Quietly consider when judge allowed to detain criminal, originally 7

The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word REFLECT

I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
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Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Quietly consider" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case quietly consider = reflect.
The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.
This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.

What does REFLECT mean?

REFLECT verb
  1. To bend back (light, etc.) from a surface.
  2. To be bent back (light, etc.) from a surface.
  3. To mirror, or show the image of something.
  4. To be mirrored.
  5. To agree with; to closely follow.
  6. To give evidence of someone's or something's character etc.
  7. To think seriously; to ponder or consider.

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