Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd Admits Guilt in Election Certification Scandal, Sidesteps Felony Charges

Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd has reached a plea agreement to evade a felony charge linked to her role in delaying the certification of the 2022 election. This decision stemmed from unsubstantiated fears of voter fraud in Maricopa County.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes announced on Monday that Judd pleaded guilty to a class 3 misdemeanor for failing to perform her duties as an election officer. As part of her sentence, she will undergo 90 days of unsupervised probation and pay a $500 fine.

The plea deal allows Judd to maintain her voting rights and remain on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors. Mayes emphasized in a press release, “Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated,” asserting that his office will hold those undermining the electoral system accountable. He added that the plea agreement serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rule of law concerning election integrity.

Last year, Judd and fellow Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby faced felony charges of conspiracy and election interference in Maricopa County Superior Court. Both were under significant pressure from GOP members across the state to withhold certification of the 2022 election results amid rampant claims of fraud propagated by various officials and activists.

Despite the evidence to the contrary, Judd and Crosby voted to postpone the certification process, arguing that the county’s ballot tabulators had not been properly certified. Their decision contravened state law, which mandates a timely canvass of election results. Democrat Ann English was the only supervisor who opposed this delay.

In November 2022, Judd explained to outlets like the New York Times and Daily Beast that the delay was intended as a protest against problems encountered on Election Day in Maricopa County. Ultimately, a judge compelled the supervisors to fulfill their legal obligations, but Cochise County became the only jurisdiction to miss the November 28 deadline for certification, jeopardizing the integrity of Republican votes in the area.

The original indictment against Judd and Crosby alleged that they had openly planned to defy the law during public meetings, undermining Governor Katie Hobbs’ ability to complete the statewide canvas by the December 5 deadline.

A subsequent ruling by a Pima County judge required both to pay $36,000 in legal fees associated with a lawsuit from the Secretary of State and the Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans, who contested the supervisors’ failure to certify the election results.

The Cochise County Board of Supervisors has drawn attention for its embrace of conspiracy theories, including efforts to conduct a hand count of ballots based on unverified claims of voter fraud. Arizona elections employ paper ballots only; voting machines used for disabled voters and ballot counting are not connected to the internet.

This attempted hand count was ultimately blocked by a Cochise County Superior Court ruling, which deemed it unlawful, a decision later upheld by an Arizona appeals court.

No response has been received from Judd regarding inquiries from the Arizona Mirror.