Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd Accepts Plea Deal
Peggy Judd, one of two rural Arizona county supervisors charged for delaying the certification of the 2022 midterm election results, pleaded guilty on Monday to a misdemeanor charge of failing to perform her duty as an election officer. The plea deal allowed Judd to avoid felony charges for her refusal to certify the election results by the state-mandated deadline.
The plea comes just two weeks before Arizona’s Nov. 5 general election and has been viewed as a warning to other election officials who may face similar pressures from election conspiracists.
Implications for Election Integrity
Judd’s guilty plea was seen by some as a significant step toward reinforcing the integrity of elections in Arizona. Former Tucson Mayor and University of Arizona professor Thomas Volgy emphasized the broader implications of the case:
“Judd’s official guilty plea represents an important development in securing election integrity in Arizona,” Volgy said. “It should be a loud wake-up call to county elected officials that they cannot fiddle with the vote intentions of Arizonans for cheap partisan gain.”
Similarly, Peter Bondi, managing director of the nonprofit group Informing Democracy, commented on the case’s impact: “This is a victory for democracy, the rule of law, and most importantly, for every voter who casts a ballot this year.”
Legal Consequences and Plea Agreement
Under the agreement reached in Maricopa County Superior Court, Judd will face a minimum of 90 days of unsupervised probation and a maximum fine of $500. The plea deal allowed her to avoid more serious felony charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. Her attorney, Kurt Altman, said that Judd is relieved to have the case behind her.
The criminal charges stemmed from Judd and fellow Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby’s refusal to certify the 2022 election results by the state deadline. The delay followed hours of chaotic public hearings and demands for a hand count of ballots, driven by baseless conspiracy theories about election integrity.
Tom Crosby’s Ongoing Legal Battle
While Judd chose to plead guilty, Tom Crosby, the other Republican member of the Cochise County Board of Supervisors, still faces felony charges. His trial is scheduled for January, and he is running for reelection in the upcoming November race. Crosby has not publicly commented on Judd’s plea agreement.
Cochise County’s election results were eventually certified after a judge ordered Judd and Crosby to fulfill their legal obligations. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes issued a strong statement following the plea, vowing to continue holding accountable those who attempt to undermine the electoral process.
“Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated,” Mayes said. “Today’s plea agreement and sentencing should serve as a strong reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona’s elections.”
