Which legal system did Texas officially switch to on January 20, 1840?

Texas officially switched to the Common Law legal system on January 20, 1840. Common Law is a body of law developed through judicial decisions and precedents rather than through statutes or written legislation. This transition was significant as it aligned Texas with the legal traditions of the United States, where Common Law is the prevailing system.

The choice of Common Law reflects the legal developments in Texas following its independence from Mexico and subsequent admission to the United States. This system emphasizes case law and the role of judges in interpreting laws, which are foundational elements of the U.S. legal framework.

This choice helped ensure that legal practices in Texas would integrate more smoothly with those in neighboring states and the broader American legal community, fostering consistency and predictability in the application of law in various cases.