By Brett RowlandThe Center SquareSenate Democrats introduced legislation this week to impose 18-year term limits on U.S. Supreme Court justices by statute, a route that would sidestep the constitutional amendment such a change has long been thought to require. The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act, from Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., is similar to his 2023 proposal. Should term limits ever become law, the justices themselves would likely decide whether Congress had the power to impose them. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, backs a constitutional amendment fixing the court at nine, and his 2022 campaign said 18-year terms would "undermine judicial independence." The Center Square was unsuccessful prior to publication getting comment from Grassley on whether term limits could be imposed by statute.