Leading Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Leading.

Leading (verb): In the legal context, leading refers to the practice of posing a question that suggests the desired answer within its own wording. This technique is often used to help a witness recall specific details, but can also influence their response. For example, the question 'Was it about 5 in the evening when you saw the fight between the parties?' indicates that an affirmative answer is expected. Generally, leading questions are disallowed if asked to a person's own witness, due to their potential to manipulate testimony.