Legal Definitions - leading case

A leading case is a judicial decision that establishes an important legal rule or principle and is consistently followed in subsequent cases. It is often the most important precedent on a particular legal issue.

• Miranda v. Arizona: This case created the exclusionary rule for evidence obtained from a suspect being interrogated while in police custody. It is a leading case because it established an important legal principle that has been consistently followed in subsequent cases.
• Brown v. Board of Education: This case established that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional. It is a leading case because it established an important legal principle that has been consistently followed in subsequent cases.

These examples illustrate how leading cases establish important legal principles that guide future decisions in similar cases. They are often cited as the dispositive authority on an issue being litigated.