Once a respected figure in the legal community, a former judge confessed he lost it and shot his wife over an argument, which led to his arrest and conviction of second-degree murder.
Former Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was convicted of second-degree murder for shooting his wife during a drunken argument at their home in 2023.
The conviction exposes the stark contrast between this former prosecutor’s public role and his private actions that ended in tragedy.
After seven hours of deliberation over two days, a jury found Ferguson guilty of murdering his wife, Sheryl, during an argument over family finances.
This marked Ferguson’s second trial, after the first ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury that deliberated for over 40 hours without reaching a verdict.
The shooting occurred following a dinner at a restaurant with their adult son, where the couple had been arguing.
The argument continued at their home, with Ferguson admitting to having several drinks before the incident.
Prosecutors said the judge, who was reportedly intoxicated, pulled a gun and shot his wife during the heated dispute.
Moments after the shooting, Ferguson texted his court clerk and bailiff a shocking confession: “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 couple’s son witnessed the shooting and attempted to wrestle the gun away from his father before performing CPR on his mother.
In a heartbreaking moment captured in the courtroom, Ferguson hugged his son after the verdict was read, telling him, “It’s OK. Be strong.”
Ferguson’s legal career spanned decades. He had served as a judge since 2015 after working as a prosecutor since 1983.
Due to his position in Orange County, Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor Hunter presided over the case to avoid conflicts of interest.
Ferguson’s defense team claimed the shooting was accidental, arguing that his disabled shoulder caused the weapon to discharge unintentionally.
However, the prosecution’s case was bolstered by evidence that authorities found 47 weapons and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at Ferguson’s home.
Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said, “This was not an accident. Ferguson was trained to never point a gun at anything he didn’t intend to destroy.”
Spitzer added:
“The one person in this entire situation that could have ensured that everybody was strong, remained strong, and could be strong, was Jeff Ferguson. Jeff Ferguson took the life of Sheryl. He took her strength, he took her body, he took her will to live and crushed it.”
The judge now faces 40 years to life in prison after being found guilty of one felony count of murder with enhancements for personal use of a firearm and discharge causing great bodily injury and death.
He had been out on $2 million bail but was barred from presiding over cases due to the felony charge.
His defense attorney, Cameron Talley, who previously worked alongside Ferguson in the district attorney’s office, expressed disappointment at the verdict but acknowledged the jury’s decision.
“I respect the jury’s verdict. At the same time, we all know that juries don’t always get it right… I still believe in Jeff,” Talley said.
The defense has already indicated that it plans to appeal the verdict. Ferguson’s sentencing date has not yet been announced.
