Jeffrey Ferguson, a former Orange County Superior Court judge and ex-prosecutor, is at the center of a high-profile murder trial, accused of fatally shooting his wife during an argument at their home.

The 74-year-old judge, once respected in California’s legal community, now faces charges that could send him to prison for life.

The case revolves around August 3, 2023, when Ferguson and his wife, Sheryl, argued over finances at a restaurant before continuing their dispute at home.

According to prosecutors, while watching Breaking Bad with their adult son, Ferguson allegedly made a gun-hand gesture toward Sheryl, who responded by daring him to use a real gun.

Moments later, he drew a loaded firearm from his ankle holster and fired a single fatal shot.

Ferguson’s legal team maintains that while he did pull the trigger, it was not intentional.

“This was a terrible accident, not a murder,” his attorney Cameron J. Talley argued, adding that Ferguson is expected to testify in his own defense.

The trial has flipped Ferguson’s decades-long legal career, forcing him to defend himself in a system where he once upheld the law.

Body-camera footage from the night of the incident shows a handcuffed Ferguson outside his home, visibly distraught and repeatedly asking if his wife was still alive.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d be sitting here in handcuffs,” he is heard saying.

Moments after the shooting, Ferguson called 911 and later sent a text message to his court staff, stating:

“I just lost it. I just shot my wife. I won’t be in tomorrow. I will be in custody. I’m so sorry.”

Authorities later discovered 47 firearms and over 26,000 rounds of ammunition in Ferguson’s home.

The prosecution argues this proves Ferguson was highly experienced with firearms, making it unlikely that he fired accidentally.

However, the defense counters that his extensive firearm knowledge actually supports their argument, insisting that a deliberate shooting would have been more calculated.

Initially released on $1 million bail, Ferguson was later re-arrested for violating bail conditions by drinking alcohol. He was then required to post $2 million.

Despite being barred from hearing cases, Ferguson continues to receive his salary under California law while his trial proceeds.

Ferguson’s son, Phillip, testified that his father had always taught him gun safety, including the importance of never pointing a firearm at another person.

After the shooting, Phillip jumped over the couch, wrestled the gun away from his father, and attempted to save his mother’s life by performing CPR.

As Ferguson’s trial unfolds, the jury must decide whether the shooting was an unfortunate accident or a deliberate act, determining the fate of a once-powerful figure now fighting for his own freedom.