Attorney Bryan Chabot of Wells unseated embattled York County Probate Judge Robert Nadeau in Tuesday’s race for the part-time elected position.

Nadeau, who has served as probate judge for 16 of the last 20 years and was recently suspended from the bench for a second time, held a slight lead over two challengers as ballots were still being tallied after midnight Tuesday.

Nadeau, of Biddeford, was challenged by Chabot and attorney Bernard Broder of Old Orchard Beach, both of whom said they ran to restore dignity and respect to the busy court, which oversees wills and the distribution of estates.

With all precincts reporting Wednesday, Chabot received 42,120 votes, 40 percent; Nadeau received 37,432 votes, 35 percent; and Broder received 25,971 votes, 25 percent.

Chabot, 37, is a lifelong York County resident who has a private law practice in Sanford. An Army veteran of Bosnia and Iraq, he has handled felony jury trials and district, superior and probate court cases.

“I’m really excited and happy,” Chabot said. “My goal is to serve York County residents the best that I can.”

Chabot said he would work with other county officials to find ways to streamline and improve probate processes in ways that would move cases through the court more quickly. He said he likes being a lawyer and will maintain his practice while working eight days each month as a judge. His salary has yet to be set by county commissioners, he said.

Chabot is expected to assume his judicial duties in January.

In July, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court ordered that Nadeau, 61, be suspended from the bench for 30 days, which started Oct. 3. The high court found that Nadeau had improperly used his judicial position to try to influence the outcome of a personal legal case in which he sought a protection-from-harassment order against a former girlfriend.

The justices cited discipline that Nadeau received in two prior cases as part of the reason for the new public censure and suspension. He has been publicly reprimanded multiple times and was suspended from his judicial duties for 30 days in 2007 for lying about campaign opponents.

Nadeau was first elected probate judge in 1996 and was re-elected in 2000 and 2004. He was defeated in 2008 after his earlier suspension but was elected again in 2012.

His suspension was without pay; his annual salary is $54,206 for working two days per week.

During the campaign, Nadeau said he sought another term because the probate court needed an experienced judge with the patience, compassion and responsiveness to hear sensitive cases and handle a busy docket. Nadeau didn’t respond to a call for comment on Wednesday.

Broder, 58, has a private law practice in Gorham. He said his education and experience in public service working with youths and people with substance abuse issues prepared him for the probate position. He has said that if he were elected, he would close his private practice.