Judge declares mistrial in case against California judge accused of killing his wife

A mistrial has been declared successful the 2023 execution lawsuit of an Orange County justice who is accused of shooting and sidesplitting his wife, the Associated Press confirmed.

A justice declared a mistrial connected Monday aft a assemblage was incapable to scope a unanimous verdict successful the lawsuit against Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 74, who was charged with shooting and sidesplitting his woman Sheryl Ferguson successful their Anaheim Hills location successful August 2023.

The assemblage deliberated for much than 40 hours implicit 8 days earlier determining they were incapable to interruption the 11-1 stalemate connected a second-degree execution charge, the outlet reported.

Prosecutors told the AP that they are readying to retry the case.

CALIFORNIA JUDGE WHO ALLEGEDLY KILLED HIS WIFE CONTINUES TO RECEIVE NEARLY $250K SALARY

Judge Ferguson's lawyer says it was an "accidental shooting."  (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, Pool)

Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer shared a connection with Fox News Digital connected the mistrial being declared and said they were disappointed with the result but volition proceed to reappraisal what accusation the assemblage was presented with. 

"Justice rests successful the hands of 12 strangers who were taken from their mundane lives and fixed the immense work to measurement the grounds and find guilt oregon innocence," Spitzer said.

"Although we are disappointed with the outcome, we volition beryllium reviewing the questions presented by the assemblage on with the facts arsenic good arsenic gathering with the victim’s family in bid to make a determination successful the coming weeks regarding this case. The District Attorney has ever been disposable to conscionable with the victim’s household should that beryllium thing they request."

The shooting happened aft Ferguson and his woman had an statement astatine a restaurant, erstwhile the 2 returned location and continued the statement earlier helium pulled a pistol from his ankle holster and changeable her successful the chest, according to prosecutors. 

The couple's big lad claimed that his begetter was drunk astatine the clip of the argument. 

Ferguson, who was a authoritative earlier helium became a justice successful 2015, was initially released connected $1 cardinal bail but is present backmost successful jailhouse aft helium allegedly lied astir drinking intoxicant portion awaiting trial.

CA JUDGE PLEADS NOT GUILTY TO KILLING SPOUSE AFTER ALLEGEDLY TEXTING COURT STAFF 'I JUST SHOT MY WIFE'

Orange County Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Ferguson, 72, was connected proceedings for the fatal shooting of his woman astatine their home.  (Anaheim Police Department)

Ferguson has pleaded not guilty, but prosecutors said helium confessed to the sidesplitting erstwhile texting with his tribunal clerk and bailiff.

"I conscionable changeable my wife. I won't beryllium successful tomorrow. I volition beryllium successful custody. I'm truthful sorry," Ferguson allegedly wrote.

Prosecutors accidental Ferguson was drinking and changeable her connected intent during the argument, portion Ferguson claims the weapon went disconnected accidentally arsenic helium removed it from its holster.

Authorities recovered 47 weapons and implicit 26,000 rounds of ammunition successful the home, which are legally owned.

CALIFORNIA JUDGE TEXTED BAILIFF 'I WON'T BE IN TOMORROW' AFTER ALLEGEDLY KILLING HIS WIFE: POLICE

Prosecutors accidental Ferguson was drinking and changeable her connected intent during the argument, portion Ferguson claims the weapon went disconnected accidentally arsenic helium removed it from its holster. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, Larry Rosen via AP)

The judge’s lawyer told the outlet that helium is hopeful determination mightiness beryllium an statement with prosecutors owed to Ferguson’s property and the enactment he’s received from his wife’s member and the couple’s son.

"I bash deliberation the grounds shows determination was ne'er immoderate intent to intentionally termination anybody," Cameron Talley told reporters, adding Ferguson’s beingness has already been destroyed, and helium is inactive saddened by the nonaccomplishment of his wife.

Larry Rosen, Sheryl Ferguson’s brother, told reporters helium was pleased with the result and doesn’t judge the sidesplitting was murder, adding helium and his brothers consciousness the shooting was an accident, and helium would similar prosecutors to scope a woody with Ferguson.

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"To me, it shows the jury, astatine slightest to immoderate degree, is arsenic conflicted arsenic I am," Rosen said. "I conscionable don’t deliberation execution is the close call. . I truly don’t."

A proceeding to acceptable a caller proceedings day is scheduled for Thursday.

Fox News Digital's Landon Mion and the Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Stepheny Price is simply a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. She covers topics including missing persons, homicides, nationalist transgression cases, amerciable immigration, and more. Story tips and ideas tin beryllium sent to [email protected]