M.O. Litz

Moroni Orson Litz (sometimes spelled Maroni, usually presented as M.O. Litz, born Tazewell County, Virginia, August 13, 1874; died Huntington, West Virginia, December 1, 1955) was a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia from his appointment on January 1, 1923, to December 31, 1936.

M. O. Litz was the one of fourteen children (including ten sons) of John T. Litz (1834-1901) and his wife Elizabeth Thompson (1839-1898). His father was a Mormon and named him "Moroni" after the Angel Moroni, but Litz appears to have used his initials for most of his life. His birthplace in Tazewell County is on the Virginia-West Virginia border, where his grandfather Peter Gose Litz owned a large plantation.

After studying at Tazewell College, Litz spent some years teaching, including two years as the principal of a high school in Graham, Virginia. In 1900 he entered the University of Virginia and received a law degree in 1902.

Litz was a Republican. In December 1922 he was appointed to the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals,

Family Litz married Judith Effler on October 27, 1908; they had five children. Judith died June 20, 1920. Litz married Mabel F. Cain April 26, 1922.