Opinion ID: 852198
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: standard of review

Text: The petitioner in a post-conviction proceeding bears the burden of establishing grounds for relief by a preponderance of the evidence. Fisher v. State, 810 N.E.2d 674, 679 (Ind.2004). When appealing the denial of post-conviction relief, the petitioner stands in the position of one appealing from a negative judgment. Id. To prevail on appeal from the denial of post-conviction relief, a petitioner must show that the evidence as a whole leads unerringly and unmistakably to a conclusion opposite that reached by the post-conviction court. Weatherford v. State, 619 N.E.2d 915, 917 (Ind.1993). Further, the post-conviction court in this case made findings of fact and conclusions of law in accordance with Indiana Post-Conviction Rule 1(6). Although we do not defer to the post-conviction court's legal conclusions, [a] post-conviction court's findings and judgment will be reversed only upon a showing of clear error  that which leaves us with a definite and firm conviction that a mistake has been made. Ben-Yisrayl v. State, 729 N.E.2d 102, 106 (Ind.2000) (internal citation and quotation omitted).