Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd Admits Guilt in Election Certification Scandal, Dodges Felony Charge

Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd has reached a plea agreement to avoid felony charges stemming from election certification delays that followed unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in Maricopa County.

On Monday, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced that Judd pleaded guilty to a class 3 misdemeanor for failing to perform her duty as an election officer. As part of the plea deal, she will serve 90 days of unsupervised probation and pay a $500 fine. This outcome allows her to maintain her voting rights and continue her role on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors.

Mayes emphasized the importance of election integrity, stating, “Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated.” He reaffirmed his commitment to holding accountable those who jeopardize the electoral process, stating that the plea deal serves as a significant reminder of the rule of law.

Judd, along with fellow Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby, faced felony charges last year for conspiracy and election interference. They were under immense pressure from GOP circles to delay certification of the 2022 election results amid widespread, unfounded allegations of voter fraud propagated by various officials and influencers.

Both supervisors voted to postpone certification beyond the legally mandated date, citing erroneous claims regarding the certification of ballot tabulators. The only opposing vote came from Democrat Ann English.

In an interview in November 2022, Judd characterized the certification delay as a protest against reported Election Day issues in Maricopa County. Ultimately, a judge compelled the supervisors to fulfill their legal obligations, but Cochise County was the sole jurisdiction to miss the November 28 certification deadline, jeopardizing Republican votes in the area.

The prosecution’s indictment accused Judd and Crosby of conspiring to disregard the law publicly, thereby obstructing Governor Katie Hobbs from completing the statewide canvas by the December 5 deadline.

Additionally, a Pima County judge ordered Judd and Crosby to pay $36,000 in legal fees to the secretary of state and an advocacy group following a lawsuit regarding their failure to certify the election.

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors has been a focal point for conspiracy theories, with efforts to conduct hand counts of ballots based on unfounded fears over voting fraud and machine manipulation. Arizona employs all paper ballots, with machines only accessible to disabled voters and for counting, none of which are internet-connected.

This effort to conduct hand counts was legally blocked, with a court ruling reinforcing the illegality of such actions as confirmed by an appeals court.

Judd did not respond to inquiries from the Arizona Mirror regarding the plea agreement.