Oct. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Jurors in Alaska Senator Ted Stevens's criminal trial started deliberations again today after an alternate replaced a juror whose father died.

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan struck the juror from the panel during a hearing last night in Washington after she hadn't responded to calls from the court seeking to determine when she could resume deliberations. The juror traveled to California on Oct. 24 to be with her family, forcing a temporary halt in deliberations.

``Because one of the jurors is no longer present'' the panel must ``start your deliberations anew,'' Sullivan instructed jurors in court today.

The judge questioned a female alternate before allowing her to join the jury of seven women and four men.

Stevens, 84, the longest-serving Republican in the Senate, is charged with failing to report more than $250,000 in home improvements and other gifts from Veco Corp., an Alaska oil- services company; Bill Allen, the company's founder, and other friends. Indicted in July, the senator demanded a speedy trial in a bid to clear his name before Election Day on Nov. 4.

The case is U.S. v. Stevens, 08cr231, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

To contact the reporter on this story: Nadine Elsibai in Washington at nelsibai@bloomberg.net; Cary O'Reilly in Washington at caryoreilly@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 27, 2008 09:47 EDT