Cochise County’s two Republican supervisors were arraigned in the Maricopa County Superior Court Thursday for charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer.
Both Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd pleaded not guilty to the felony charges.
The indictment handed down by the state grand jury relates to the actions the two Republican supervisors took last year when they chose to not vote to certify the 2022 general election canvass by state’s deadline. Crosby said in 2022 he wanted to table the issue to a later time to allow public comment.
It was only after a lawsuit was filed by then Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and a court order for the board to convene and certify the canvass that Judd and Democratic Supervisor Ann English certified the canvass in December. Crosby did not attend nor vote in that court-ordered meeting.
Commissioner Shellie Smith said if either supervisor fails to appear for their hearings without good cause, a warrant could be issued for their arrest.
The two Supervisors are expected to be back in court in February for their initial pre-trial conference.
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