In the United States , section 31 of the Crimes Act of 1790 eliminated the benefit from federal courts .
Section survived well into the mid 19th century in some state courts ( for example , South Carolina granted a defendant benefit of clergy in 1855 ) .
In the United States , section 31 of the Crimes Act of 1790 eliminated the benefit from federal courts , but it survived well into the mid 19th century in some state courts ( for example , South Carolina granted a defendant benefit of clergy in 1855 ) .