Kerry Max Cook, a Texas man who spent 20 years on death row, has been officially exonerated.

In a 106-page opinion released Wednesday, June 19, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals ruled that Cook, now 68, is innocent of the 1977 murder of Linda Jo Edwards.

The decision comes 8 years after a judge ruled there is not enough evidence to support Cook’s claim of actual innocence.

The state’s highest criminal court, however, said prosecutorial misconduct – including support of false testimony and the withholding of evidence – kept Cook from receiving a fair trial and prevented jurors from considering evidence supporting his innocence.