Gwyneth Paltrow's stalker, who was ordered to be held in a mental institution, was wrongly denied a hearing on his bid for placement in a conditional release programme.
Three California appeal judges said another judge erred in denying Dante Michael Soiu's application without first holding an evidentiary hearing. The appeals court has ordered a hearing.
Soiu, 52, sent hundreds of letters, e-mails and packages to the 30-year-old actress and showed up at her parents' home.
Paltrow, who won a best actress Oscar for Shakespeare in Love testified during Soiu's trial in Los Angeles that she was "very fearful" of him.
Soiu was convicted in December 2000 of stalking her and was sent to a high-security mental facility after O'Neill determined he was insane.