Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson was arrested on suspicion of murder in the fatal shooting of his wife at their Anaheim Hills home, authorities said Friday.
Anaheim Police Department officers arrested Ferguson, 72, after they were called to his home just after 8 p.m. Thursday in the 8500 block of East Canyon Vista Drive regarding reports of a shooting. Inside the home, officers found 65-year-old Sheryl Ferguson, the judge’s wife, suffering from at least one gunshot wound, said Anaheim police Sgt. Jonathan McClintock.
Sheryl Ferguson was pronounced dead at the scene.
Judge Ferguson was booked into the Anaheim Police Department’s Detention Facility on suspicion of murder and was held on $1 million bail, McClintock said.
Other details were not released by police. The investigation was ongoing.
“Our thoughts go to the family,” Orange County Superior Court Presiding Judge Maria Hernandez said in a statement Friday morning.
“We all pray for their comfort during this trying time,” Hernandez said. “Although no case has been filed with our court, when appropriate, we will take all necessary steps to ensure full compliance with our legal and ethical obligations. As this is a pending matter still under investigation, the court is unable to provide any further information at this time.”
Orange County Superior Court leaders were advised of the arrest on Thursday night by Anaheim police, Hernandez said.
Law enforcement sources told the Los Angeles Times that a son of the judge and his wife was at the home.
According to The Times, Ferguson has served as a judge in Orange County Superior Court since 2015. He previously spent more than three decades with the Orange County district attorney’s office, during which time he worked as part of the Major Narcotics Enforcement Team. He served as president of the North Orange County Bar Association from 2012 to 2014.