Orange County Judge Jeffrey Ferguson Speaks After Mistrial in Wife's Murder Case

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, charged with the murder of his wife Sheryl, spoke out following a mistrial declared after the jury was deadlocked 11-1 in favor of a guilty verdict for second-degree murder. In interviews, Ferguson maintained that the shooting, which occurred during an argument on August 3, 2023, was accidental, describing the experience of being on trial as surreal and akin to 'being in an episode of Twilight Zone.' He expressed mixed feelings about the mistrial, feeling both relieved and emotionally impacted by the jury's split decision. Ferguson, who has been in the criminal justice system for 40 years, reiterated that he is not escaping responsibility for his wife's death. The Orange County District Attorney plans to retry the case, with a hearing scheduled for March 20 to set a new trial date. Ferguson's defense attorney acknowledged the hung jury as part of the legal process, expressing respect for the jury's efforts.