Upright before court (5)
I believe the answer is:
erect
'upright' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)
'before court' is the wordplay.
'before' becomes 'ere' (poetic term for 'before').
'court' becomes 'ct' (abbreviation used in road names).
'ere'+'ct'='ERECT'
(Other definitions for erect that I've seen before include "Upright or vertical" , "Found" , "Construct - perpendicular" , "Assemble" , "Build, set up" .)