SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) – A Southern California judge, Jeffrey Ferguson, was convicted of second-degree murder for fatally shooting his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, following a domestic argument. The sentencing is scheduled for Wednesday and Ferguson could face a maximum of 40 years to life in prison. Since a jury found him guilty in April, the 74-year-old has been in jail. The incident, which took place in August 2023, has sent shockwaves through the legal community in Orange County, where Ferguson had served as a judge and was known for decades.
Prosecutors detailed that Ferguson, a former criminal prosecutor, pulled a gun from his ankle holster after an evening of drinking and arguing about family finances. The dispute started at a Mexican restaurant and continued at their Anaheim Hills home while they were watching the television series “Breaking Bad” with their adult son, Phillip. Although Ferguson admitted to shooting Sheryl, he claimed that it was accidental.
The legal community in the county, which is home to 3 million residents between Los Angeles and San Diego, has been shaken by the case. To prevent a conflict of interest, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter presided over Ferguson's trial. The case initially ended in a mistrial in March when a jury deadlocked. However, a second jury later convicted Ferguson in April of second-degree murder along with felony gun enhancements.
Ferguson's attorney, Frances Prizzia, is currently seeking a new trial, arguing that there was insufficient time for preparation between the two trials. She also claimed that a key witness was unavailable for the second trial, which placed her client at a disadvantage. Prizzia stated in her court filings that the denial of a continuance was an "unreasonable and arbitrary insistence upon expeditiousness in the face of a justifiable request for a delay."
During the trial, prosecutors presented evidence that Ferguson had been drinking prior to the fatal incident. Evidence revealed that he made a gun-like gesture toward Sheryl while they were arguing. The couple's argument persisted at home, where Sheryl reportedly challenged her husband to point a real gun at her. In a tragic turn of events, Ferguson did so and subsequently pulled the trigger.
Ferguson, who had experience and training in firearms, testified that he had intended to place the gun on a table cluttered with items but fumbled it due to an injured shoulder, leading to the gun discharging. After the shooting, he and Phillip dialed 911. Ferguson then texted his court clerk and bailiff, admitting, "I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won't be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I'm so sorry.” The message was presented as evidence during the trial.
Video footage showed Ferguson sobbing while speaking with police outside his home. He expressed remorse, fearing that his son and others would hate him, and he even pleaded for a jury to convict him. Following his arrest, authorities discovered 47 weapons, including the firearm used in the shooting, along with over 26,000 rounds of ammunition in his home.
Judge Jeffrey Ferguson began his legal career in the district attorney's office in 1983, where he worked on narcotics cases and received various awards. He became a judge in 2015, presiding over criminal cases in Fullerton, approximately 10 miles from the court where he is set to be sentenced. The case has highlighted the complexities of personal relationships and firearms, especially when intertwined with the duties of those in the legal profession.
