Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd has accepted a plea deal on a misdemeanor charge, allowing her to avoid felony charges and continue in her role. The plea deal stems from her decision to delay certification of the 2022 midterm election in Cochise County due to concerns over election integrity.
Judd pleaded guilty to a class 3 misdemeanor of refusing to perform the duty of an election officer, under the agreement reached on Oct. 21. This plea deal spares her from a felony charge that she and another supervisor were previously charged with for delaying the certification of the Nov. 8, 2022, general election past the statutory deadline.
As part of the plea deal, Judd will serve unsupervised probation for 90 days and pay a $500 fine. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes emphasized that any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated, and the plea agreement serves as a reminder of upholding the rule of law and protecting the integrity of elections in the state.
Judd, along with fellow Republican Cochise County Supervisor Tom Crosby, voted against certifying the county’s vote canvass before the Nov. 28, 2022, certification deadline mandated by state law. Judd cited distrust in the election’s voting machines and the absence of a hand recount during the meeting where she voted against certifying the results.
Former Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who is now the Attorney General, sued Cochise County over the delayed certification, arguing that the board’s inaction could disenfranchise tens of thousands of voters in the county. A state judge ruled that the board was required to canvass the election by Nov. 28 and deemed the delay unlawful.
The indictment against Judd and Crosby alleges that they conspired to delay the canvass of votes cast in Cochise County during the midterm election, as well as knowingly interfered with election officers’ duties. Crosby, who pleaded not guilty, still faces the two felony counts.
Judd’s plea deal enables her to avoid felony charges and maintain her voting rights and position on the Cochise County Board of Supervisors. Please rephrase
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