Leading Question Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Leading Question.

Leading Question (noun): A type of question asked by a person (often an attorney) that guides the respondent towards a predetermined answer, thereby influencing the response. An example could be, "It was raining when the incident occurred, wasn't it?" The expected answer is already suggested in the question. In a courtroom, judges usually don't allow attorneys to ask leading questions to their own witnesses, but these types of questions can be used with witnesses from the opposition or those deemed hostile.