If a lawyer is appointed as the executor of a will, can they pass it off to another lawyer if (original lawyer) does not want to do it?

No executor named in a Will becomes the executor until a court appoints that person executor.  If the named executor refuses to act and the Will names a successor executor, the court can appoint that person if the first named executor provides a satisfactory excuse.  If the named executor refuses to act and the Will does not name a successor executor, submit the Will for probate and ask the court to appoint an executor.