April 23, 2005
Judge Jon D. Ferguson
by Ed Butler
Analogous perhaps to riding the wild surf, Judge Jon D. Ferguson shifted in
short order recently from prosecuting a high profile homicide to becoming a
newborn Superior Court judge of San Bernardino County. Raised in Rialto and
a deputy district attorney for the past 16 years, Judge Ferguson now presides
over criminal pre-preliminary and preliminary hearings at the Victorville District
of the court.He was appointed by Gov. Schwarzenegger Feb. 16 and sworn into
office
approximately a month later.
After cutting his teeth on a couple dozen trials for alleged driving under
the influence, Judge Ferguson's prosecutorial career included several years
in the career criminal unit, several years of felony trials including mostly
murder cases, and the last couple of years in the prison lifer hearing unit.
In this last assignment, he traveled to various prisons around the state to
testify against the granting of parole to life incarcerees.Judge Ferguson says
the role of judge attracted him after all his
time in the courtroom, having admired judges and wondering if he could serve
in that capacity. He feels his personality is suited to the role, and that he
has been inclined to view cases objectively.
Growing up in Rialto, he enjoyed sports including Little League and competing
on the tennis team at Eisenhower High School. He also enjoyed biking, skateboarding
and backpacking. He earned his bachelor's degree at UC Riverside, where he undertook
a double major of sociology and law and society.
He earned his law degree at the University of San Diego School of Law and was
admitted to the California bar in 1988. His other activities have included teaching
several criminal justice classes at National University, San Bernardino satellite
campus. He also has taught for the county sheriff's academy and National College
of District Attorneys and has served as trustee of the Law Library for San Bernardino
County.
Judge Ferguson and wife Casey live in Rancho Cucamonga with a daughter, 9, and son, 7. The judge fills the office from which Judge Walter Blackwell retired.
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Ed Butler is Rancho Cucamonga branch manager of the Law Library for
San Bernardino County