Winona Ryder was commended by a judge for abiding by the rules of her probation in a shoplifting case.

Ryder's lawyer, Shepard Kopp, said outside court earlier this week that the judge plans to consider reducing her felony convictions to misdemeanors.

"I want to compliment you on your behavior on probation," Superior Court Judge Elden Fox told the 32-year-old actress, who didn't speak during the hearing.

Ryder was convicted last year of stealing merchandise from Saks Fifth Avenue in Beverly Hills, Calif., in 2001.

She was placed on three years' probation a year ago and fined $2,700. She also was ordered to pay $6,355 in restitution to the store and $1,000 in restitution to the court. She has made those payments.

The judge said her probation report, which was sealed from public view, had been very positive. "And there's an indication that things are going well," he said.

Fox ordered Ryder to return to court May 26 for a six-month review.

Ryder, whose films include The Age of Innocence and the upcoming The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things, also has been undergoing therapy. She completed 480 hours of community service at the City of Hope Medical Center in Duarte, Calif.