"You select the five or I'll select the five," U.S. District Judgte Emmet Sullivan told defense attorneys, The Hill reported.

Stevens, 84, the longest-serving Republican senator, has pleaded not guilty to charges of failing to report more than $250,000 in gifts and home renovations on his Senate financial disclosure forms.

The character witnesses are a major part of the defense's strategy of showing Stevens is an honest man and would not knowingly lie under oath, the Washington publication reported.

Sen. Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, the first defense witness called Thursday, testified that Stevens is an honest man who had a high reputation in the Senate.

Also scheduled to testify is former Secretary of State Colin Powell. It was not known who else would be called, The Hill said.