> Even the silly confusing ones have a long life. E.g. "Rule against perpetuities"
That wouldn't be my go-to example of a silly law. It's what prevents control of property from remaining permanently with the will of a dead person who managed to own the property outright. It says that, at some point, the will can have no more influence and full ownership vests in someone who's alive.
There might be minor alterations to details, but the core laws are mostly older than that. Murder, theft, etc don't change that much.
Even the silly confusing ones have a long life. E.g. "Rule against perpetuities"