Using Excited Utterances to Prosecute Domestic Violence in New York: The Door Opens Wide, or Just a Crack?

The article discusses the use of excited utterances as a hearsay exception in domestic violence prosecutions, particularly in the case of *People v. Lopez*. It highlights how this precedent allows prosecutors to use such statements without the complainant's testimony, which is crucial in cases where victims often refuse to cooperate. The author cautions against over-reliance on this exception, emphasizing the need to balance the prosecution's interests with the defendant's right to confront their accuser under the Confrontation Clause.