A Southern California judge was convicted of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of his wife during debate on Tuesday.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, was brought to trial for the murder of his wife, Cheryl, 65, at his Anaheim Hills home. Ferguson confronted his defense and admitted to shooting his wife dead, but claimed it was an accident.
The ju apprentice reached a decision Tuesday afternoon after deliberation from the previous day. He was also found guilty of felony gun enhancement charges and faced up to 40 years in prison when sentenced June 13th.
When the verdict was read in court, Ferguson was seen hugging his son before being handcuffed and detained.
Judge declares mistials if he opposes a California judge accused of killing his wife
Orange County Superior Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was handcuffed in Santa Ana, California on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 after embracing her son, Philip Ferguson. (AP)
Ferguson’s attorney, Cameron Tully, said the defense attorney plans to appeal the verdict.
“I respect the verdict of the ju-referee,” Tully said. “At the same time, we all know that ju-referees don’t always do that right… I still believe in Jeff.”
The verdict came last month after an earlier ju umpire fell apart, with Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Eleanor J. Hunter declared a erroneous sentence. Hunter was overseeing the case to avoid a conflict of interest with the Orange County Superior Court where Ferguson was the main side of the criminal case before the shooting.
Prosecutors said Ferguson and his wife discussed finances at the restaurant on August 3, 2023 when they made a gun-like hand gesture towards her. When they returned home watching TV with their adult son, they continued their argument, and Ferguson’s wife cheated him to point him at her. He pulled the pistol out of the ankle holster before shooting in the chest and took duty.
Prosecutors said Ferguson was drunk at the time.
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, right, his lawyer Cameron Tully, Center, Francis Pretzia, left on Tuesday, April 22, 2025 in Santa Ana, California. (AP)
He testified that he pulled the gun from the ankle holster and left it on the table as he groped for it and was discharged from the hospital.
After the shooting, Ferguson and his son both called 911, and Ferguson confessed to his court clerk and enforcement officer to kill him.
“I just lost it. I just shot my wife. There’s no tomorrow. I’m going to be detained. Sorry,” Ferguson wrote.
His son Philip testified that he worked on his father to remove the gun after the shooting and played CPR to his mother.
Ferguson spoke to police again outside his home and when he was in custody. He sobbed in the video, saying that his son and everyone would hate him. He also admitted that he had killed his wife and called for a ju-search to convict him.
A California judge who allegedly killed his wife continues to receive a salary of around $250,000
Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson will be comforted by attorney Cameron Tully after the verdict was read in Santa Ana, California on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP)
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Authorities said they discovered 47 weapons, including guns used in the shooting, and 47 weapons, including over 26,000 rounds of ammunition at home. They said Ferguson had experience and training in firearms.
“This wasn’t an accident. Ferguson was trained to never point at a gun at anything he wasn’t trying to destroy,” Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said in a statement.
Ferguson was a prosecutor before becoming a judge in 2015.
He was on $2 million bail, but he didn’t govern in court as the state constitution prohibits judges facing felony charges from hearing cases.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
