---
title: O.C.G.A. § 16-3-27. Benefit of clergy.
collection: code
id: 16-3-27
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 16-3-27 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-27
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-27.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-27/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t16-ch1-6-(v14)-2019-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=af47a366_0#page=348
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3.md
previous: https://georgiacommons.org/code/16-3-26.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CRIMES AND OFFENSES / DEFENSES TO CRIMINAL PROSECUTIONS / JUSTIFICATION AND EXCUSE
---

# O.C.G.A. § 16-3-27. Benefit of clergy.

Since it is no longer needed or appropriate, the ancient device of benefit of clergy shall not exist.

## History

Laws 1833, Cobb’s 1851 Digest, p. 837; Code 1863, § 4547; Code 1868, § 4567; Code 1873, § 4661; Code 1882, § 4661; Penal Code 1895, § 17; Penal Code 1910, § 17; Code 1933, § 26-102; Code 1933, § 26-202, enacted by Ga. L. 1968, p. 1249, § 1.