Mistrial declared in O.C. judge’s murder case

A mistrial has been declared in the case of an Orange County judge who is accused of shooting and killing his wife, the Orange County Register reports.

Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, has admitted that he shot his wife but claims the gun went off by accident.

A jury was unable to come to a unanimous verdict in the death of 65-year-old Sheryl Ferguson, who was killed in 2023 at the couple’s Anaheim Hills home.

Jurors deliberated for more than 40 hours over eight days before determining they were unable to break the 11-1 stalemate on a murder charge.

Prosecutors plan to retry the case, the Register reports.