A mistrial has been declared in the case of Southern California Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who was accused of fatally shooting his wife in 2023 after more than a week of deliberations. The Los Angeles Superior Court made the ruling on Monday when one juror did not find Ferguson guilty of murdering his wife, Sheryl Ferguson, leading to an 11-1 deadlock. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer stated that prosecutors are prepared to retry the case.
During the trial at the Santa Ana Courthouse in Santa Ana, Calif., Jeffrey Ferguson, an Orange County Superior Court judge, listened to the opening statements by his defense attorney, Cameron J. Talley on Monday, Feb. 24, 2025. Spitzer commented that having an 11-1 vote for guilty was significant progress.
Spitzer’s office intends to meet with Sheryl Ferguson’s family soon to determine the next steps. Spitzer emphasized the importance of seeking justice for Sheryl, who he believes was killed in cold blood. Ferguson’s attorney, Cameron Talley, expressed hope that prosecutors would not pursue a retrial considering the judge’s age and the lack of evidence indicating intent to kill.
Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, Larry Rosen, expressed satisfaction with the ruling, suggesting that he views the shooting as an accident rather than a deliberate act of murder. The incident occurred in August 2023 when Sheryl Ferguson was shot by her husband at their Anaheim Hills home in Orange County.
The shooting took place following an argument that began while the couple was out to dinner with Jeffrey Ferguson’s adult son from a previous marriage. The dispute continued at their home, where Sheryl confronted her husband about their son’s lack of gratitude for their financial support. The situation escalated, leading to the fatal shooting while their adult son witnessed the event.
Ferguson immediately contacted emergency services after the incident, admitting to shooting his wife and expressing remorse. He was found to be in possession of numerous firearms and ammunition at their residence. Despite being initially released on bail, he faced imprisonment for violating his parole due to alcohol consumption.
Throughout the trial, Ferguson maintained that the shooting was accidental and expressed regret for his actions. The case ended in a mistrial due to the jury’s inability to reach a unanimous decision regarding his guilt.
In 1983, a former Orange County deputy district attorney, after becoming intoxicated, used a concealed carry gun during an argument with his wife, resulting in her being shot. “We are not claiming he planned this crime,” stated Senior Deputy District Attorney Seton Hunt. “The evidence does not support that, but it does show that he had the intention to kill.” Ferguson’s blood-alcohol level was .065 percent when tested several hours after the shooting, however, an expert suggested it was likely around .17 percent at the time of the incident, Hunt added, as reported by NBC Los Angeles. Ferguson also admitted in court that he would have a few drinks a couple of nights a week after work and acknowledged keeping alcohol near his desk due to his alcoholism, as confirmed by his attorney, Cameron J. Talley.
