In 1774, as a result of a ruling by the British courts in Campbell v Hall about the status of legal systems found in acquired territories, the British Parliament passed the Quebec Act, which preserved French civil law for private law while keeping and reserving English common law for public law including criminal prosecution.
In 1774, following a judgment by British courts in Campbell v Hall on the legal systems of acquired territories, the British Parliament passed the Quebec Act. This act safeguarded French civil law for private matters while keeping and reserving English common law for public affairs, including criminal prosecution.