cause cé·lè·bre 
(kôz′ sə-lĕb, kōz′ sā-lĕbrə)
(kôz′ sə-lĕb, kōz′ sā-lĕbrə)n. pl. causes cé·lè·bres (kôz′ sə-lĕb, kōz′ sā-lĕbrə)
1. An issue arousing widespread controversy or heated public debate.
2. A celebrated legal case.
[French : cause, case + célèbre, celebrated.]