The Dallas City Hall public corruption trial is done for the week as the federal judge canceled testimony this morning because a juror’s parent is extremely ill.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Lynn made the announcement before the third full day of testimony was to begin at 8:30 a.m. She told the other assembled 15 jurors that the missing juror left the court a message overnight, but officials could not contact everyone in time to notify them of the development.

The judge elected not to dismiss the juror and proceed with an alternate, of which there are four. She offered sympathy to the absent juror, and then sent everyone home for an early start to the July Fourth weekend.

There will be no court next week, to accommodate another juror’s vacation, which was planned in advance of their selection for service on the panel.

The trial, which could last through August, is the largest public corruption case in Dallas history. Accused are former Mayor Pro Tem Don Hill, his appointee to the city’s plan commission D’Angelo Lee, and three other associates.

Prosecutors say they extorted hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes from developers seeking approval for low-income housing projects in southern Dallas, and funneled the money through a web of sham consulting and construction contracts.

Six people have already pleaded guilty, and all are expected to testify in order to get reduced sentences.