Cochise Supervisor Judd takes plea deal in case over delayed 2022 election certification

Peggy Judd, one of two Republican Cochise County supervisors indicted for delaying certification of the 2022 election results, has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in a deal with the state attorney general's office.

State of play: Judd pleaded guilty Monday morning to one count of failure or refusal to perform duty by an election officer, a class 3 misdemeanor, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced Monday.

• In her plea agreement, Judd affirmed that she "did knowingly refuse to perform" a statutory duty when she voted to delay certification of the county's 2022 election results.
• She will serve 90 days of unsupervised probation and pay a maximum fine of $500.

Catch up quick: Judd and fellow GOP Supervisor Tom Crosby refused to certify the 2022 general election results before the statutory deadline, saying they wanted to first hear about the certification and reliability of ballot-tabulation machines.

• Such machines have been the source of conspiracy theories and baseless allegations in the past two elections.
• Judd joined Supervisor Ann English, the lone Democrat on the three-person board, in certifying the results three days after the deadline, following a judge's order.
• A grand jury indicted Crosby and Judd last November on charges of interference with an election officer and conspiracy, both of which are class 5 felonies.

Zoom in: State law requires counties to certify canvasses within 20 days of an election.

• Statute allows for no discretion in whether supervisors approve the results.

What she's saying: "Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated. My office will continue to pursue justice and ensure that anyone who undermines our electoral system is held accountable," Mayes said in a press statement.

What they're saying: Judd is pleased that the case is over and happy to move on from it, attorney Kurt Altman told Axios.

• Given the mildness of the charge, Altman described the prosecution as "a pretty colossal waste of time and money."
• Crosby's attorney was also unavailable for comment. He is scheduled to go to trial on Jan. 30.

Why it matters: Judd's plea deal comes shortly before an election in which experts across the country are concerned about local election officials using their power to challenge the results if they're unhappy with the outcomes.

• In Arizona, some expect the Crosby and Judd indictments to serve as a deterrent for supervisors in other counties.
• Mayes said the plea agreement should be a "strong reminder" that she'll "use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona's elections."

Between the lines: Judd didn't seek re-election and will leave the board in January.