Leading case

Leading \Lead"ing\, a.
   Guiding; directing; controlling; foremost; as, a leading
   motive; a leading man; a leading example. -- {Lead"ing*ly},
   adv.
   [1913 Webster]

   {Leading case} (Law), a reported decision which has come to
      be regarded as settling the law of the question involved.
      --Abbott.

   {Leading motive} [a translation of G. leitmotif] (Mus.), a
      guiding theme; in the musical drama of Wagner, a marked
      melodic phrase or short passage which always accompanies
      the reappearance of a certain person, situation, abstract
      idea, or allusion in the course of the play; a sort of
      musical label. Also called {leitmotif} or {leitmotiv}.

   {Leading note} (Mus.), the seventh note or tone in the
      ascending major scale; the sensible note.

   {Leading question}, a question so framed as to guide the
      person questioned in making his reply.

   {Leading strings}, strings by which children are supported
      when beginning to walk.

   {To be in leading strings}, to be in a state of infancy or
      dependence, or under the guidance of others.

   {Leading wheel}, a wheel situated before the driving wheels
      of a locomotive engine.
      [1913 Webster]
    

LEADING CASE. A case decided by a court in the last resort, which settles a 
particular point or question; the principles upon which it is decided are to 
be followed in future cases, which are similar to it. Collections of such 
cases have been made, with commentaries upon them by White, by Wallace and 
Hare, and others.