Shrink back like learner among judges (6)
I believe the answer is:
blench
'shrink back' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'learner among judges' is the wordplay.
'learner' becomes 'l'.
'among' means one lot of letters goes inside another.
'judges' becomes 'bench' (name for a judge's seat, or for judges themselves).
'l' inserted within 'bench' is 'BLENCH'.
'like' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for blench that I've seen before include "Make sudden move" , "Cringe" , "Turn pale with fear" , "Shrink back, flinch" .)