The prosecution alleges that Judge Ferguson purposely fired the gunshot that killed his wife during a heated argument in front of their adult son at their home. But Ferguson testified that he accidentally fired the gunshot after his bad shoulder gave out while he was placing the firearm on a coffee table and his finger slipped onto the trigger.

A jury announced Monday afternoon that they are at an impasse in the trial of an Orange County judge who is accused of fatally shooting his wife at the family’s home in 2023. Superior Court Judge

Ex-Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, who was charged in August 2023 with first-degree murder after allegedly shooting his wife with a pistol, fought back tears on Monday as he told the jury in a California state court that his wife's death was an accident.