PHOENIX (AP) – One of two rural Arizona county supervisors who faced criminal charges for refusing to certify 2022 midterm results by the deadline pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor count of failing to perform the duties of an election official.
Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd’s guilty plea two weeks before the Nov. 5 general election was seen by some as a warning to other Arizona county officials who could be pressured again by election conspirators not to certified the results.
“Judd’s official guilty plea represents important progress in ensuring the integrity of Arizona’s elections,” said Thomas Volgy, former mayor of Tucson, Arizona, and professor at the University of Arizona, where he specializes in democratic processes. “This should be a loud wake-up call to county elected officials that they cannot tinker with the voting intentions of Arizonans for cheap partisan gain.”
Peter Bondi, managing director of the nonprofit Informing Democracy, said in a statement that Judd’s appeal “is a clear reminder that the certification requirement is not optional and should discourage any election official from attempting to subvert the will of voters.”
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“This is a victory for democracy, the rule of law and, most importantly, a victory for every voter who casts a ballot this year,” Bondi said.
Judd avoided possible criminal charges by entering a plea pursuant to an agreement reached in Maricopa County Superior Court, where the criminal case was initiated. Judd will be sentenced to unsupervised probation for a period of not less than 90 days and will pay a maximum fine of $500, said Arizona Attorney General spokesman Kris Mayes.
“We don’t have much comment other than she’s very happy to get this over with,” Judd’s lawyer, Kurt Altman, said.
Judd and Tom Crosby, her GOP colleague on the three-member board, were indicted last year on charges of conspiracy and interference with an election official after delaying the state’s canvassing. A third board member, Democrat Ann Crosby, voted to certify the election.
Cochise County’s results were ultimately certified after the deadline after a judge ordered Judd and Crosby to fulfill their legal obligations.
“Any attempt to interfere with Arizona elections will not be tolerated,” Mayes said in a statement after filing the complaint. “My office will continue to pursue justice and ensure that anyone who challenges our electoral system is held accountable.
“Today’s settlement and verdict should serve as a strong reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool at my disposal to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona’s elections,” she added.
Judd and Crosby demanded a hand recount of all ballots in the county amid rampant conspiracy theories about voting integrity and chaotic public hearings that dragged on for hours. They also expressed doubts about the accuracy of vote counting machines. Republicans lost the governor and attorney general races to Democrats in November 2022.
Crosby is still scheduled to go to trial on the charges in January and will run for re-election in November. Judd did not seek re-election. When contacted by email on Monday, Crosby appeared to be unaware of Judd’s request, but he did not respond to a request for comment on the matter.
Arizona used to be reliably Republican, but Democrats have gained more influence in recent years, especially in urban areas like Phoenix, which has become one of the fastest-growing U.S. cities as people move from other states in search of more places work.