A once-respected Orange County judge now finds himself at the center of a high-profile murder trial, accused of fatally shooting his wife during an argument at their home. Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, a longtime Superior Court judge and former prosecutor, is fighting to convince a jury that the shooting was a tragic accident rather than an intentional act.
The case has sent shockwaves through California’s legal community, with Ferguson—a man who once upheld the law—now defending himself against charges that could send him to prison for life.
The events of August 3, 2023, have become the focal point of the trial. That evening, Ferguson and his wife, Sheryl, dined at a local restaurant, where they reportedly argued about finances. The dispute continued at home while they watched Breaking Bad with their adult son.
Prosecutors claim that during the argument, Ferguson made a gun-hand gesture toward Sheryl, to which she allegedly responded by daring him to use a real one. Moments later, Ferguson pulled out a loaded gun from his ankle holster and fired a single fatal shot.
His defense team, however, argues that the shooting was not premeditated. Ferguson’s lawyer, Cameron J. Talley, maintains that while Ferguson pulled the trigger, he did not do so intentionally. “This was a terrible accident, not a murder,” Talley has stated, adding that Ferguson is expected to testify in his own defense.
A man who once prosecuted criminals, Ferguson is now a defendant, forced to navigate the legal system from the other side of the courtroom.
Body-camera footage from the night of the shooting shows Ferguson outside his home in handcuffs, distraught and repeatedly asking if his wife was still alive. “Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be sitting here in handcuffs,” he is heard saying.
In the moments after the shooting, Ferguson himself called 911. He also sent a text message to his court staff, stating, “I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”
Authorities later discovered 47 firearms and more than 26,000 rounds of ammunition in his home. While the prosecution argues that this shows Ferguson was highly experienced with firearms, the defense insists that his familiarity with weapons makes it even more likely that the shooting was accidental rather than deliberate.
Ferguson, who has served as a judge for over a decade, has been barred from hearing cases while his trial is underway, though he continues to receive his salary under California law. His legal troubles worsened when he was re-arrested for allegedly violating his bail conditions by drinking alcohol. Initially released on $1 million bail, he was later required to post $2 million.
His son, Phillip, testified that Ferguson had long taught him firearm safety and stressed the importance of never pointing a weapon at another person. After the shooting, Phillip said he jumped over the couch, wrestled the gun away from his father, and attempted to save his mother’s life by performing CPR.
As the trial unfolds, Ferguson faces the fight of his life, arguing that his actions were not those of a murderer but of a man who made a terrible mistake. The jury will ultimately decide whether this was a tragic accident or a deliberate act of violence.
