ALBANY – When State Senator James J. Lack retires at the end of the year, the Judiciary will lose one of its staunchest supporters in the Legislature.

Not only is Mr. Lack, 57, a senior lawmaker and respected member of the Republican majority, he is also chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. As such, he is the upper house legislator who carries the Judiciary bills – and over the last eight years, he has carried dozens.