SANTA ANA, Calif. — A Southern California judge is on trial for the murder of his wife, following an incident where he allegedly shot her during an argument at their home. The trial for Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson commenced on Wednesday, with prosecutors outlining the events of August 3, 2023, when Ferguson allegedly shot his wife, Sheryl, after an evening of drinking and disputes.
Prosecutor Seton Hunt detailed to jurors how the couple’s argument began during dinner at a local restaurant and continued at home while they were watching the television series “Breaking Bad” with their adult son. Hunt described how Ferguson, 74, allegedly made a gun gesture at his wife, which led to further provocation when she challenged him to use a real gun. Ferguson then reportedly retrieved a loaded weapon from his ankle holster and fired, Hunt stated.
The prosecution presented a video recording in which Ferguson is heard confessing to the crime, reportedly saying, “I killed her. I did it.” Despite this, Ferguson has pleaded not guilty, with his defense attorney, Cameron J. Talley, maintaining that the shooting was accidental. Talley reserved his opening statement for later in the trial.
Following the shooting, Ferguson and his son contacted 911. Ferguson also sent a text to his court clerk and bailiff, admitting to the shooting and indicating that he would not be in court the next day because he would be in custody. Authorities later discovered 47 firearms and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at his residence.
Initially released on a $1 million bail, Ferguson was taken back into custody after allegedly violating the terms of his release by drinking alcohol. He was subsequently released on a $2 million bail. Due to the nature of the charges, Ferguson is not currently hearing cases and is no longer listed on the Orange County Superior Court’s website, although he continues to receive a salary under state law.
Ferguson, who has served as a judge for a decade, began his career in the Orange County district attorney’s office in 1983 and later became known for his work on narcotics cases. He also served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014. In 2017, Ferguson was admonished by the Commission on Judicial Performance for a Facebook post about a judicial candidate, which was deemed reckless, and for maintaining Facebook friendships with attorneys who appeared before him in court.
The trial is being presided over by a Los Angeles County judge to avoid conflicts of interest, given Ferguson’s previous role in the Orange County legal community.
