Littlejohn Law LLC - September 2021

Littlejohn Law LLC - September 2021

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM

740-314-4829

09/21

BUILD IT. PROTECT IT. PRESERVE IT.

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CONSTITUTION AND WHY WE SHOULD ALWAYS FIGHT TO PRESERVE IT

As it turns out, the United States Constitution is considered to be so important, so revolutionary, that it has its own holiday coming up this month on September 17: Constitution Day. As a lawyer, and someone who studied constitutional law, I have a profound appreciation for the Constitution and how it and the amendments have shaped the United States into the country it is today. One amendment in particular stands out to me as the most important one, and fittingly, it’s the First Amendment. You probably know it as the amendment that gives us freedom of speech, but it actually has a much broader scope than that. In its entirety, it reads: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” This amendment not only gives us freedom of speech, but also the right to assemble with like-minded people, and attend religious gatherings. So many of the basic rights and freedoms that we take for granted in this country came from this very first amendment. “If we start to make laws that limit freedom of speech to just what we want to hear, then that’s a slippery slope toward giving the government way more control over our lives than is necessary or good.”

When I was learning about constitutional law in law school, the First Amendment, and its implications for American society, particularly intrigued me. I remember learning about one landmark Supreme Court case in particular, that some of the history buffs among you might be familiar with: Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969). The background of this case was that Clarence Brandenburg, who was a Ku Klux Klan leader from rural Ohio, decided to hold a Klan rally in Hamilton County in 1964. At the rally, Brandenburg proceeded to give a hate-filled speech to a crowd of white supremacists, and he was later charged with inciting violence against certain groups of people, including African Americans and Jews. While Brandenburg did indeed call for violence against those groups, he did so generally — and that’s what led to the Supreme Court’s precedent-setting decision to reverse the charges brought against Brandenburg. They ruled that his words, though hateful, were not meant to incite “imminent lawless action.” In short, since he made no specific charge to do anything illegal, he didn’t violate any federal free speech laws. Learning about that case had a profound impact on how I thought about the First Amendment. I’ll admit, I was appalled by the verdict the Supreme Court reached in Brandenburg v. Ohio when I first learned about it. However, I eventually came to see that the ruling overall as positive. Were the things that Clarence Brandenburg said good? No, they were not. But if we start to make laws that limit freedom of speech to just what we want to hear, then that’s a slippery slope toward giving the government way more control over our lives than is necessary or good. One little ruling that nibbles at our freedom of speech or right to assemble could lead to us losing everything. I’m the village solicitor for several places here in our local area, and every time we have a meeting, and I say the Pledge of Allegiance with my hand over my heart, I think about how we live in the greatest country in the world. We can do whatever we want to do, be whoever we want to be, and explore a wealth of opportunities not available anywhere else — and all of that is protected in large part under the First Amendment.

–Edward Littlejohn

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM | 1

Prepping for an Empty Nest? 3 THINGS TO DO BEFORE YOUR GRADUATE LEAVES

COVER THE HOUSEHOLD BASICS If there’s one thing to look forward to, it’s all the laundry you won’t have to do anymore. And the fridge will be fully stocked without ravenous teens emptying it regularly! But before you drop your child off at college or their new home, make sure they can manage laundry, cook basic meals, and keep a tidy space. Some basics to cover include the difference between hot and cold wash and how to make scrambled eggs. MAKE A BUDGET Living as a broke young adult is almost like a rite of passage to “real” adulthood, but you can make this experience easier just by opening that often taboo door and talking about money. Explain the processes or budgeting systems that work for your family and guide your child through their potential living expenses. Try test runs so they understand how much they will have to spend on necessities, like groceries, hygiene items, and gas.

Congratulations to parents sending their children off to college or “the real world” this year! Parenthood is not for the faint of heart — from toddler meltdowns to angsty teenage years, you might be counting down the days to an empty nest.

Yet, that doesn’t make your child moving off to college any easier.

Fear not, for you can help your child live more independently at college in many ways and give yourself peace of mind knowing that your baby is going to be fine. PREPARE LEGAL DOCUMENTS Once they turn 18, your child is no longer under your care — legally speaking. You can no longer make decisions for them, including medical decisions, should they become incapacitated and unable to make their own decisions. Connect with a trusted attorney to create medical and financial powers of attorney that give you these rights. (Just consult with your child first before doing so!)

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE: MR. KEY LOCKSMITH SHOP

If you ever are in need of a locksmith who’s knowledgeable and fair, give Marco a call. He’s my go-to locksmith for keys, car fobs, and other locks.

Mr. Key Locksmith Shop 752 Frank P. Layman Blvd. Wintersville, OH 43953 740-264-7233

2 | 740-314-4829 This newsletter is for informational purposes only and no legal advice is intended. Be sure to consult with this law firm if you have a specific question about your situation. And remember, Edward and Jeff don’t take any unplanned inbound telephone or in-person meetings. We believe each case deserves our undivided attention.

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

A Few Questions to Ask Before Building a Firepit Firepit Season Is Almost Here!

Spending the last few days with Kyzlee and Zade before she starts school. It’s hard to believe that I have a school-aged daughter. I’m very excited about Kyzlee starting preschool at West Elementary.

September is the last month of summer, and the first month of fall. The days will start to get a lot cooler, and for me that means one thing in particular: It’s firepit season. On a crisp fall evening, nothing quite beats sitting around a firepit with family and friends while drinking a cold beer. Last year, an associate attorney at Littlejohn Law wrote about how he had built a firepit in his backyard during the height of the pandemic, and how it was a place where he felt people could come together for quality time outside. I wholeheartedly agree. I can’t imagine anyone not enjoying sitting around a crackling fire under a canopy of stars. It makes me wonder why everyone doesn’t have a firepit somewhere on their property. However, maybe the reason is just that you haven’t built one yet! While I’m certainly no expert on firepit construction myself, I figured that since it is firepit season, I would offer up a few questions that I found helpful. Have you had a firepit before? If you had a firepit in a previous home, or even while you were growing up, it might color your expectations for the firepit you want. Those expectations are good to know before getting started on construction. How many people do you want to accommodate with your firepit? The size of the gathering that you foresee around your firepit will probably determine where it gets placed in your yard. From which direction is the wind most likely to come into your yard? You might not know the answer to this question, but it’s definitely something to think about. You don’t want to have people sitting where they’ll just get a huge face full of smoke! Do you want a gas-powered or wood-burning firepit? This is basically a question of convenience or aesthetic. It might be nice to just simply flip a switch to get your firepit roaring to life, but many people love the smell and sound of good, old-fashioned burning logs. There are probably a dozen other questions you could ask about getting a firepit in your backyard, but these are just a few to start you off. If you do build a firepit this year, I hope it serves you well as the weather cools down!

Finally able to catch up with my best friend from law school, the Honorable Judge David Hamilton.

ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN

Inspired by WellPlated.com

• 1 1/2 lbs boneless, INGREDIENTS

• 2 tsp Dijon mustard • 4 tsp olive oil, divided • 3 sweet apples, cut into 1/2-inch slices • 2 tsp fresh rosemary, chopped, plus more for garnish

skinless chicken thighs

• 1 tsp salt, divided • 1/2 tsp black pepper, divided • 1/2 cup apple cider

DIRECTIONS

1. Sprinkle chicken with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper. Set aside. 2. In a small bowl, combine apple cider and mustard. Set aside. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm 2 tsp olive oil. When shimmering, add chicken thighs top-side down. Cook for 4 minutes, then flip and cook for 4 more minutes. Transfer to a plate and cover with foil. Wipe the skillet clean. 4. Heat the remaining oil in the skillet, then add sliced apples, remaining salt and pepper, and rosemary. Cook for 5 minutes. 5. Return the chicken to the skillet and add apple cider- mustard mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, then serve sprinkled with rosemary!

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM | 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

352 FRANK LAYMAN BLVD. WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953

WWW.LITTLEJOHNLAWLLC.COM 740-314-4829

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1

THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF OUR CONSTITUTION

2

3 THINGS ALL STUDENTS NEED BEFORE MOVING TO COLLEGE

LOCAL BUSINESS PROFILE

3

WHAT’S NEWWITH ME AND MY OWN?

FIREPIT SEASON IS ALMOST HERE!

ONE-PAN APPLE CIDER CHICKEN

4

2 FUN FAMILY CARD GAMES TO PLAY WITH 1 DECK

2 FUN FAMILY CARD GAMES TO PLAY WITH 1 DECK

Whether you’re hanging out at home or camping with the family, card games are a great way to relax. A single deck is versatile and easy to pack, so if you have one on hand, try these two games that go beyond the classics like War and Go Fish. 1. SLAPJACK (2+ Players, No Jokers) : The goal of this War-style game is to win all of the cards. To start, deal all of the cards face down, then have everyone form their cards into a pile without looking at them. Each player then flips a card face up into the center. Continue doing this until one of the cards played is a jack. When that happens, the first person to slap the jack wins it and the cards beneath! They add them to their deck, and play continues until one player has all of the cards. To keep things interesting, if you accidentally slap a card that isn’t a jack, you have to give up one of your cards to the player with that pile, and if you run out of cards,

you can reenter the game by slapping the very next jack.

2. SPAR (2–4 Players, No Ace of Spades or Cards Below 6) : This easy game is played with just 35 cards, and the object is to win the last round (aka trick). To start, deal five cards to each player. Then, have the person to the left of the dealer lay one of their cards face up. Each person in the circle then plays a card in the same suit if they can or another suit if they can’t. Whoever has the highest card in the original suit wins the trick and starts the next one! The winner of the fifth trick wins the game. If you want to keep score, award three points if the winning card is a six, two points if it’s a seven, and one point if it’s an eight or higher. Then play again! We found these games on BicycleCards.com, but you can learn about them and dozens of others by checking out “The Ultimate Book of Family Card Games” by Oliver Ho from your local library.

4 | 740-314-4829