Court Opinion

ID: 9608400
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-22 03:11:56.4421+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T11:36:21.241117
License: Public Domain

HUNSTEIN, Chief Justice,
concurring specially.
While I concur fully in Divisions 1 and 2 and agree with the majority that Merritt’s bankruptcy was admissible evidence of motive, I write specially to note that
[fjiling of a bankruptcy petition is no more misconduct than the filing of a suit for breach of contract or an adoption petition, unless filed fraudulently. Even though bankruptcy imparts certain social stigma, it is not evidence of bad character.
Tennessee v. Chestnut, 643 SW2d 343, 348 (Tenn. Crim. App. 1982). Accordingly, I would find that evidence of Merritt’s bankruptcy did not even incidentally put her character in issue.