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California Judge Jeffrey Ferguson Convicted of Wife's Murder

After a retrial, the Orange County judge was found guilty of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife in 2023 during a drunken argument.

SANTA ANA, CALIF, FEBRUARY 26, 2025  Jeffrey Ferguson, an Orange County Superior Court judge, who allegedly pulled a gun from his ankle holster and fatally shot his wife, listens to closing arguments at the Santa Ana Central Justice Center in Santa Ana, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Jeffrey Ferguson, an Orange County Superior Court judge, seen during opening statements at the Santa Ana courthouse on Feb. 19. (Frederick M. Brown/Pool Photo via AP)
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Overview

  • Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, was convicted of second-degree murder for the August 2023 shooting of his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, at their Anaheim Hills home.
  • Jurors rejected Ferguson’s claim that the shooting was accidental, instead determining that he acted with intent or reckless disregard while intoxicated.
  • The verdict follows a mistrial in March 2025, where the jury deadlocked 11-1 in favor of a guilty verdict, prompting a retrial.
  • Ferguson faces a maximum sentence of 40 years to life in prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 13, 2025.
  • Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer announced plans to review Ferguson’s prior cases for potential misconduct during his tenure as a judge and prosecutor.