Colorado has a new chief justice for its Supreme Court.

Justice Michael L. Bender will become the state’s top judge on Dec. 1. His fellow justices on the seven-person Supreme Court elected him to the post Wednesday.

Just last week, Colorado voters approved Bender for another 10-year term on the high court. A conservative group called Clear the Bench had tried to oust Bender and two other justices, Alex Martinez and Nancy Rice.

Bender said he is “pleased and honored” to be selected.

He succeeds Mary Mullarkey, who has served as chief justice for 12 years. Under Mullarkey, the court issued a series of ruling that significantly limited the effects of the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights. The cases culminated with a 2009 opinion that opened the door to the Legislature’s repeal of a dozen tax credits and exemptions early this year, including tax exemptions for candy and Internet sales.

Former Gov. Roy Romer appointed Bender to the court in 1997.

The most senior justice on the court now will be Gregory Hobbs, the resident water expert and another Romer appointee.