What is a leading question?

A leading question is one that suggests or implies a particular answer, thereby guiding the respondent towards a specific response. This is important in legal contexts, particularly during examinations, as leading questions can influence the answers provided by witnesses. The phrasing of such questions typically includes prompts that nudge the witness to respond in a way that aligns with the questioner's expectations.

For instance, instead of simply asking, "What color was the car?" a leading question might be, "You saw the red car at the intersection, didn’t you?" This not only assumes the car's color but also suggests that the witness should confirm the statement. Leading questions can be useful during cross-examinations but are generally disallowed during direct examinations in order to allow witnesses to provide their own unprompted accounts of events.

Other options describe different types of inquiry that do not imply a suggested answer or do not fit the definition of a leading question. For example, clarifying questions seek to gain clarity without suggesting an answer, inquiries for expert opinions deal with the qualifications of witnesses, and general inquiries are open-ended without specific direction or implication. These options do not convey the essential characteristic of leading questions, which is their inherent suggestion of the response expected.