Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, is currently on trial for the murder of his wife Sheryl Ferguson at their Anaheim Hills, California home on August 3, 2023. Prosecutors allege that Ferguson, who had been drinking, shot his wife during an argument while the couple was watching the hit crime series “Breaking Bad.”
According to prosecutors, the couple had been arguing about finances earlier that evening while out to dinner, and the dispute continued when they returned home. During the argument, Sheryl Ferguson allegedly dared her husband to point a gun at her, which he did, pulling a loaded gun from his ankle holster and fatally shooting her in the chest while their adult son looked on.
“I killed her. I did it,” Ferguson is heard saying on police bodycam video shown to jurors during the trial, according to prosecutor Seton Hunt’s opening testimony on Wednesday.
Following the shooting, Ferguson sent a text message to his court clerk and bailiff, writing: “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”
Both Ferguson and his son, Phillip, called 911 after the shooting. Phillip Ferguson then took the gun away from his father and attempted to perform CPR on his mother, who was not breathing. Bodycam footage shown to the jury depicts the judge being led out of his Orange County home in handcuffs before he was charged.
“Never in my wildest dreams I thought I’d be sitting here in handcuffs,” Ferguson is heard saying as police officers questioned whether his wife was still alive.
Ferguson’s defense attorney, Cameron Talley, does not deny that his client shot and killed his wife but claims the shooting was an accident. The defense argues that during the couple’s dispute over money, Ferguson made a gun gesture with his hand, with his wife teasing him to point a real gun. The judge, described as an experienced gun owner, then allegedly pointed a real gun at his wife and pulled the trigger accidentally.
Phillip Ferguson’s testimony has potentially undermined the prosecution’s premeditation theory. According to court documents, Phillip testified that he did not see his father “aim” the gun at his mother, contradicting some elements of the state’s case. The defense has also indicated that experts will testify about ballistics and psychological factors related to the incident.
Authorities later discovered that Ferguson possessed 47 weapons and approximately 26,000 rounds of ammunition in his home. Prosecutors also noted that Ferguson’s blood-alcohol level was over twice the legal limit for driving at the time of the shooting, and he was in violation of his concealed carry permit by drinking alcohol that night.
Ferguson, a former Orange County prosecutor, was released on $1 million bail after his arrest. However, he was later taken back into custody for violating his bail conditions by consuming alcohol. He has since been released on a higher bail of $2 million and is expected to testify at his trial.
The case has rocked the legal community in Orange County, where Ferguson had served as an elected judge for a decade after previously working as a prosecutor. As he faces a felony charge, Ferguson is not currently hearing cases but continues to draw a salary. If convicted, he could face up to 40 years to life in prison.
Ferguson has faced prior disciplinary issues during his judicial career, including an admonishment in 2017 for misconduct related to a judicial candidate and social media interactions. To avoid any conflict of interest, his trial is being presided over by Los Angeles County Judge Eleanor J. Hunter and is expected to last several weeks.
The prosecution has charged Ferguson with first-degree murder, discharge of a firearm causing death, and personal use of a firearm. The defense team has reserved their opening statements, suggesting a strategic approach to contextualizing the evidence as the trial progresses.
During the proceedings, the judge presiding over the trial has warned Ferguson not to visit friends or former colleagues at the courthouse during breaks to avoid the “appearance of impropriety.”
Ferguson has pleaded not guilty to the charges. His defense attorney has expressed confidence that Ferguson will be acquitted once all evidence is presented, maintaining that the shooting was a tragic accident rather than an intentional act.
The trial continues in Orange County, with both prosecution and defense preparing to present further evidence and testimony in the coming days. The jury will ultimately have to determine whether Ferguson is guilty of murder and, if so, to what degree.
