At this rate, Ted Stevens' jury may still be deliberating on Election Day.

The father of a female juror, identified only as juror No. 4, died suddenly and she is on her way to California to be with family. U.S. District Court Judge Emmet Sullivan delayed the trial until at least Tuesday to accommodate the missing juror and to allow time to determine the next step in the case.

Juror 4 may be understandably distracted and in no shape to deliberate next week. Deliberations must start anew if an alternate steps in to fill the missing juror's spot. But as more time passes, there's greater reason to worry that the alternates will watch a news story or read TalkLeft commentary or talk to a friend or otherwise become contaminated by facts they encounter outside the courtroom. Of course, that risk exists even with deliberating jurors, but it's especially difficult for alternates to stay away from the news if they think their role in the trial has probably ended.