John David Cort

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

The Respondent, a solicitor admitted in 1983, was convicted of murder at Nottingham Crown Court on 28 May 2010 and sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years. The SRA left four earlier Rule 5 allegations on file and proceeded only on the murder conviction. The Tribunal found the allegation proved, holding that the conviction breached Rules 1.01 and 1.06, damaged the profession's reputation, and rendered him unfit to be a solicitor. He was struck off the Roll. Costs were assessed at £1,000 (limited to the one proved allegation) and ordered not to be enforced without the Tribunal's permission given his imprisonment.

Duties found breached:

• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients

Aggravating factors:

• Conviction of murder
• Sentenced to life imprisonment with minimum term of 29 years
• Risk to the public and unfit to be a solicitor
• Tragic and violent death of a solicitor (case of utmost gravity)