A federal judge in Washington recessed jury deliberations early Friday in the corruption trial of Sen. Ted Stevens, Alaska Republican, after a juror’s father died suddenly, compelling her to travel to California until next week.
The delay in jury deliberations pushes a judgment closer to the Nov. 4 elections in which Mr. Stevens hopes to win his seventh full term. He had sought an early trial to give him time for his re-election campaign against Democrat Mark Begich and continue a Senate career that stretches back to 1968.
Mr. Stevens, 84, is charged with lying on Senate financial disclosure forms to conceal $250,000 in home renovations and other gifts from Bill Allen, his friend and founder of oil services firm VECO Corp.
U.S. District Judge Emmet G. Sullivan said that if the juror does not return early next week, she might need to be replaced by an alternate.
Although unexpected, a temporary loss of a juror is common in long trials, said Sheldon Snook, administrative assistant to the chief judge at U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The trial of Mr. Stevens started Sept. 22.
“It’s not that unusual,” Mr. Snook said. “That’s why we have alternates.”
Putting an alternate juror on the actual panel would mean deliberations, which started Wednesday, must resume from the beginning.
Friday’s juror departure was the second time in two days problems arose with the jury. On Thursday, 11 of the jurors voted to expel a woman listed by the court as Juror No. 9. The foreman accused her of “violent outbursts” and being uncooperative.
Judge Sullivan declined to dismiss the woman but called the jury back to court to counsel them on the importance of cooperating. Deliberations could proceed with 11 jurors if the government and Mr. Stevens’ attorneys agree to allow it.
“If we lose another juror, we have major problems,” Judge Sullivan said Friday as he recessed the court.
He scheduled a meeting with attorneys Sunday evening to determine how to proceed with jury deliberations.
Before recessing the court, he recalled one of the four alternate jurors to ask her whether she would be available if she is needed next week. He also asked about whether any conflicts of interest had arisen that might interfere with her serving as an alternate.
She said she would be available and had no conflicts of interest.
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