Mistrial Declared in Case of California Judge Charged with Wife's Shooting Death

Orange County jury deadlocks 11-1 in favor of second-degree murder conviction, with retrial planned by prosecutors.

The trial of Judge Jeffrey Ferguson ended in a mistrial after jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict, with 11 of 12 favoring a guilty verdict for second-degree murder.
Ferguson, a 74-year-old Orange County Superior Court judge, admitted to fatally shooting his wife Sheryl but claimed the shooting was accidental during an argument at their Anaheim Hills home in 2023.
Prosecutors alleged Ferguson intentionally shot his wife following an argument over family finances, while the defense argued the gun discharged accidentally due to a fumble caused by his bad shoulder.
Key evidence included Ferguson's text messages to colleagues confessing to the shooting and extensive police footage showing his emotional responses after the incident.
Sheryl Ferguson’s brother has publicly stated his belief that the shooting was accidental and has called for lesser charges to spare the family further distress during a retrial.