Judge Michael Gableman, a member of the state Supreme Court starting in August, is likely to rule on several contentious issues, including the 2006 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage.
Gableman defeated incumbent Justice Louis Butler 51 to 49 percent April 1.
Conservative-leaning groups in the race largely supported Gableman, including the Wisconsin Family Council, the Wisconsin Club for Growth and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce.
Julaine Appling, chief executive officer of WFC, said she was pleased with Tuesday's results. WFC opposes gay marriage and worked to get the marriage ban passed, which it did with almost 60 percent of the vote in 2006.
Judge Gableman joining the court in August bodes well for the issues we are concerned about getting a fair and impartial hearing,"" Appling said.
She said it was likely topics like the marriage ban and domestic partner benefits would be ruled on by the state Supreme Court in the next few years. She said business-related cases and parents rights cases were also expected to come before the court.
A case involving state employees attempting to get health insurance benefits for their partners is currently before the court, with the next hearing in May. A February preliminary ruling on the case was a 4-3 decision, with Butler siding with the majority, according to court documents.
Gableman is seen as someone who will likely shift the ideological balance of the court and often refered to Butler, an activist judge during the campaign.
Glenn Carlson, executive director of the LGBT rights group Fair Wisconsin, said he was not sure how Gableman would rule on issues like gay marriage or domestic partner benefits.
""He has not given any indication [how he would rule] on the issues that are important to us,"" Carlson said.
He said the group would re-evaluate its stance depending on future rulings by Gableman.
Fair Wisconsin did not endorse a candidate for the Supreme Court because they currently have a case being heard, according to Carlson. He also said cases involving gay marriage and civil unions would be looked at by the Supreme Court in the near future.
