Clue: Wade's opponent in court sounds dear (3)
Answer: ROE
Explanation: Definition: Wade's opponent in court

Homophone [*sounds*] of DEAR is DEER, of which **ROE** is a species.
 
*Wade vs Roe was a famous court case in the US centring on the woman's right to have an abortion. It's been much in the news over the last year or so.