In his op-ed piece in The Sun ("O'Malley: Maryland faces tough choices but a bright future," Jan. 23), Governor O'Malley reminds us several times of the hard choices and decisions he has made as governor. Well, it is a tough job.

So here is an easy decision for him to tackle, specifically, the case of Mark Farley Grant, who has been imprisoned more than 25 years for a crime he did not commit. According to the Innocence Project, and brought to public attention by The Sun's Dan Rodricks, lawyers at the University of Maryland School of Law spent several years delving into the circumstances of Mr. Grant's case and concluded Mr. Grant is innocent of the crime he was convicted of, just as he has claimed all along. Their report was sent to the governor two or three years ago, suggesting clemency was in order. And the result? Nothing.

Our justice system is not perfect, and this case seems be a glaring example. Other states have moved to right such egregious wrongs when discovered. Not so here. Mr. Grant was sentenced to life in prison, and Mr. O'Malley has previously expressed the sentiment that "life means life" and, apparently therefore, has chosen to ignore this grave injustice. As governor he has the authority and, therefore, the responsibility to right this wrong. He apparently prefers his cheap mantra of life means life, even when that life is innocent. His stance disrespects the justice system, dishonors his office and diminishes his leadership. I find his silence on Mr. Grant's case astounding.

Barbara Gilmour, Towson