Don't like the rulings? Democrats want to change the Supreme Court

Ahead of the US midterms, Democrats propose expanding the Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices, imposing 18-year term limits, creating a binding ethics code, and restricting the 'shadow docket'. Republicans accuse them of trying to 'intimidate the court'. Among the proposers: Senator Whitehouse and Hakeem Jeffries. The chance of a law is slim.

Ahead of the November US midterms, the Democratic Party is advancing a series of bills to change the Supreme Court, according to a report in The Washington Post. The proposals include increasing the number of justices from nine to 13, limiting terms to 18 years instead of lifetime appointments, creating a strict ethics code, and restricting the procedure known as the 'shadow docket'. The background is anger over recent rulings that narrowed the Voting Rights Act of 1965, eased campaign finance laws, and expanded presidential powers. Democratic Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, who introduced the term-limit bill, said the purpose of filing the bills is to send a message to the public. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said 'all options are on the table.' Republicans, including Mike Ferguson and Tom Jipping, call it an attempt to 'intimidate the court.' The chance of the proposals becoming law is slim without a solid majority and ending the filibuster. Former Vice President Kamala Harris called for reconsidering expanding the number of justices. Professor Daniel Epps of Washington University warned against viewing the court as a political institution.