In Santa Ana, California, the trial of a judge charged with murder following his wife’s fatal shooting concluded in a mistrial on Monday due to the jury’s inability to deliver a unanimous verdict. The proceedings were led by Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter, who declared the case involving 74-year-old Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson as a mistrial. Nearly all jurors, eleven out of twelve, leaned towards a guilty verdict for second-degree murder, prompting prosecutors to consider retrying the case.
According to the prosecution, Ferguson killed his wife, Sheryl, with a handgun while watching television at their Anaheim Hills home during an argument in 2023. Despite acknowledging the shooting in his testimony, Ferguson claimed it was accidental. Judge Hunter, who handled the case to avoid potential conflicts of interest, has scheduled a further hearing this Thursday in Los Angeles to discuss the next steps.
Following the mistrial, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer mentioned that the case would be reassessed, and discussions would be held with Sheryl Ferguson’s family regarding future actions. Spitzer remarked, “Eleven to one is a success in the world in which we operate,” adding that justice for Sheryl’s cold-blooded death remained a priority.
Ferguson’s lawyer, Cameron Talley, expressed that Ferguson likely felt relief after the mistrial, which potentially saved him from immediate custody. Talley hopes for a potential agreement with prosecutors given Ferguson’s age and the backing he has from his wife’s family.
Sheryl’s brother, Larry Rosen, expressed satisfaction with the result, attributing the shooting to an accident rather than murder. He showed openness to an agreement with Ferguson, reflecting on the divided jury’s stance that mirrored his conflict over the nature of the case.
The case has deeply affected Orange County’s legal scene, home to over 3 million residents between Los Angeles and San Diego. During the trial, it was asserted that Ferguson, having consumed alcohol, mimicked a gun gesture towards his wife during an argument at a restaurant before using a real firearm at home while watching “Breaking Bad” with their son Phillip.
Ferguson admitted to firing the gun but maintained it was by accident when he attempted to place the firearm onto a table after retrieving it from its holster. The trial took place close to where Ferguson managed criminal cases, including extensive video evidence of Ferguson interacting with law enforcement after the incident. In a visibly emotional state, he was recorded expressing fears of alienation from his son.
Directly after the shooting, both Ferguson and his son contacted 911. Ferguson also sent a remorseful text message to his court staff, acknowledging the shooting and his imminent arrest. Investigators later discovered an arsenal of 47 firearms and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at Ferguson’s residence, highlighting his comprehensive familiarity with firearms and related criminal proceedings.
Appointed as a judge in 2015, Ferguson is currently barred from courtroom duties due to the state constitution prohibiting judges facing felony charges from serving.
His legal career initiated in 1983 as a district attorney, specializing in narcotics cases where he received numerous accolades. The district attorney’s office plans to review Ferguson’s past cases following admissions during the trial that he consumed alcohol during work breaks, fostering concern about his professional conduct, particularly while handling criminal arraignments in Fullerton.
