(CN) - An informercial pitchman won't have to serve a 30-day jail sentence for getting his followers to jam a federal judge's e-mail inbox, the 7th Circuit ruled.
The circuit dismissed Kevin Trudeau's contempt of court conviction, saying a judge can't find him in contempt without a hearing if the judge wasn't present during the alleged incident.
U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman's computer and BlackBerry were flooded with e-mails from Trudeau's supporters. Gettleman said the contempt ruling was appropriate because his computer is part of his court.
Gettleman has been overseeing a protracted legal battle between Trudeau and the Federal Trade Commission.
Trudeau appears in infomercials selling dietary supplements.
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