Mel Gibson "Making Good Progress"

Judge notes that actor is way ahead of schedule in probation for Oksana battery case

Mel Gibson got a gold star.

Or he would have gotten a gold star had he shown up in person Thursday for a probation hearing. But Gibson wasn't required to attend the session and instead it was his lawyer, Blair Berk, who shared his glowing report card with the judge.

Gibson was sentenced to three years' probation back in March, including a year-long domestic violence counseling program, after pleading no contest to one misdemeanor count of domestic violence involving former girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva.

He paid his fines and completed his community service back in June. And on Thursday, Berk told Judge Stephanie Sautner that Gibson is way ahead of schedule, having completed 38 counseling sessions equaling 78 hours total with his therapist.

That amount not only satisfied prosecutors, but Sautner said Gibson was "making good progress."

Gibson will have another hearing to show proof of completion on March 2, 2012.

In the meantime, the erstwhile Mad Max is trying to make good progress with his movie comeback.

But he has a ways to go in that department: his planned movie about biblical Jewish warrior Judah Maccabee has been the subject of much criticism from Jewish leaders, who still are upset over the actor's infamous anti-Semitic rant aimed at the sheriff's deputy who arrested Gibson for DUI back in 2006.