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5d ago

Jury Reaches Verdict in Second Trial of Judge Accused of Killing Wife

The decision follows a mistrial in the first trial and comes as the district attorney announces plans to review the judge's past cases.

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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)
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

  • A jury has delivered a verdict in the second murder trial of Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who is accused of fatally shooting his wife, Sheryl, in August 2023.
  • The first trial ended in a mistrial with an 11–1 jury split in favor of a guilty verdict on a second-degree murder charge.
  • Prosecutors argued Ferguson intentionally killed his wife during a domestic dispute, citing video testimony from their son and Ferguson's elevated blood-alcohol level at the time.
  • The defense maintained the shooting was accidental, claiming the gun misfired as Ferguson attempted to place it on a coffee table.
  • Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer has announced plans to review Ferguson's past judicial cases following the conclusion of the trial.