Evidence

Leading Question

A leading question is one that suggests the answer.

Just asking a specific question is not leading.

• "Was the car green?" – OK
• "Isn't it true the car was green?" – Bad
• "And the car was green?" – Maybe

Leading questions are permitted in cross-examination or with hostile witnesses.

Leading questions are generally prohibited in direct examination but are allowed at the judge's discretion as necessary to develop the witness’s testimony, usually for non-substantive things.

Objecting to leading questions is often stupid because they are so easy to fix.