Mistrial Declared in Murder Trial of Orange County Judge Who Fatally Shot Wife

After nine days of deliberation, jurors deadlocked 11-1 in favor of conviction; prosecutors confirm plans to retry the case.

The jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on second-degree murder charges against Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, resulting in a mistrial.
Ferguson claims the fatal shooting of his wife, Sheryl, was accidental, citing a fumbled attempt to place his gun on a coffee table after an argument.
Prosecutors argued the shooting was intentional, pointing to Ferguson's incriminating statements shortly after the incident and his history of carrying a gun while intoxicated.
Sheryl’s brother has publicly stated his belief that the shooting was accidental and has urged prosecutors to pursue lesser charges to avoid further strain on the family.
The District Attorney’s office announced plans to retry the case, with the presiding judge indicating the retrial will occur soon.