State of Tennessee, Petitioner v. Clifford L. Grace, Respondent

Summary

The Tennessee Supreme Court reversed the Court of Criminal Appeals and reinstated Clifford Grace's conviction for passing a $65 worthless check. Holding that a guilty verdict approved by the trial judge accredits the State's witnesses, resolves all conflicts in favor of the State's theory, and raises a presumption of guilt on appeal, the Court placed on Grace the burden of showing the evidence preponderates against the verdict. Because he failed to carry that burden, and because the market manager's testimony about settlement authority was immaterial to guilt, the intermediate court's re-evaluation of the evidence could not stand.