Confirmation hearings were held this week for Ketanji Brown Jackson, the first Black woman ever to be nominated for the US Supreme Court.

Jackson, 51, is President Joe Biden's pick to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer. Jackson, who currently sits on DC's federal appellate court, once worked for Breyer.

Throughout the hearings this week, Jackson defended her experience and credentials as she faced criticisms from Republican senators on her judicial philosophy and legal record. No Democratic senators have signaled they will oppose Jackson, and a vote will be held on April 4.

"If I am confirmed, I commit to you that I will work productively to support and defend the Constitution and the grand experiment of American democracy that has endured over these past 246 years," Jackson said in her opening statement.

Here are some of the stories that made headlines over the past week, as well as some photos that caught our eye.

Pictures lie amid the rubble of a house in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 23. It has now been a month since <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F02%2F14%2Fworld%2Fgallery%2Fukraine-russia-crisis%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Russia invaded Ukraine,</a> and the destruction continues to mount.
Pictures lie amid the rubble of a house in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 23. It has now been a month since Russia invaded Ukraine, and the destruction continues to mount.
Serhii Nuzhnenko/Reuters
St. Peter's Isiah Dasher fends off Kentucky's Lance Ware during their first-round game at the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 17. St. Peter's defeated Kentucky 85-79 in overtime. It was <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F18%2Fsport%2Fsaint-peters-kentucky-march-madness-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">the tournament's biggest upset this year,</a> as St. Peter's was a 15-seed and Kentucky was a 2-seed.
St. Peter's Isiah Dasher fends off Kentucky's Lance Ware during their first-round game at the NCAA Tournament on Thursday, March 17. St. Peter's defeated Kentucky 85-79 in overtime. It was the tournament's biggest upset this year, as St. Peter's was a 15-seed and Kentucky was a 2-seed.
Andy Lyons/Getty Images
Homes are damaged in Arabi, Louisiana, on Wednesday, March 23. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F23%2Fweather%2Fnew-orleans-tornado-severe-weather-wednesday%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Tornadoes ripped through the New Orleans area</a> the night before.
Homes are damaged in Arabi, Louisiana, on Wednesday, March 23. Tornadoes ripped through the New Orleans area the night before.
Edmund D. Fountain/The New York Times/Redux
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, right, appears at a court hearing in this screengrab taken from video on Tuesday, March 22. He was <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Feurope%2Falexey-navalny-fraud-conviction-russia-intl-hnk%2Findex.html" target="_blank">sentenced to nine years in a maximum-security jail,</a> according to the Russian state-owned news agency Tass. He had been convicted on fraud charges by Moscow's Lefortovo court over allegations that he stole from his Anti-Corruption Foundation. His lawyer said he would appeal the guilty verdict.
Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, right, appears at a court hearing in this screengrab taken from video on Tuesday, March 22. He was sentenced to nine years in a maximum-security jail, according to the Russian state-owned news agency Tass. He had been convicted on fraud charges by Moscow's Lefortovo court over allegations that he stole from his Anti-Corruption Foundation. His lawyer said he would appeal the guilty verdict.
Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters
A man takes a photo of a NASA rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, March 17. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F17%2Fworld%2Fnasa-artemis-i-rollout-pad-scn%2Findex.html" target="_blank">The Artemis I mission</a> is scheduled to launch later this year, carrying an unmanned Orion spacecraft to the moon and back. It's the first step of NASA's ambitious program to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon later this decade.
A man takes a photo of a NASA rocket at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Thursday, March 17. The Artemis I mission is scheduled to launch later this year, carrying an unmanned Orion spacecraft to the moon and back. It's the first step of NASA's ambitious program to land the first woman and the first person of color on the moon later this decade.
Aubrey Gemignani/NASA/Getty Images
University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, left, accepts her trophy after winning the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta on Thursday, March 17. Thomas,<a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F17%2Fsport%2Flia-thomas-ncaa-swimming%2Findex.html" target="_blank"> the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title,</a> is joined on the podium by second-place Emma Weyant of Virginia and third-place Erica Sullivan of Texas. With each victory, Thomas has brought renewed attention to <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F02%2F22%2Fus%2Flia-thomas-transgender-swimmer-ivy-league%2Findex.html" target="_blank">the ongoing debate on trans women's participation in sports</a> and the balance between inclusion and fair play.
University of Pennsylvania swimmer Lia Thomas, left, accepts her trophy after winning the 500-yard freestyle at the NCAA Championships in Atlanta on Thursday, March 17. Thomas, the first transgender athlete to win an NCAA Division I title, is joined on the podium by second-place Emma Weyant of Virginia and third-place Erica Sullivan of Texas. With each victory, Thomas has brought renewed attention to the ongoing debate on trans women's participation in sports and the balance between inclusion and fair play.
Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportsw/AP
Friends and family of Sierra Jenkins attend a vigil in her memory Sunday, March 20, in Norfolk, Virginia. Jenkins, a Virginian-Pilot newspaper reporter and a former CNN news assistant, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F19%2Fus%2Fsierra-jenkins-virginian-pilot-reporter-killed-shooting%2Findex.html" target="_blank">was fatally shot in an early morning shooting</a> on Saturday. She was 25.
Friends and family of Sierra Jenkins attend a vigil in her memory Sunday, March 20, in Norfolk, Virginia. Jenkins, a Virginian-Pilot newspaper reporter and a former CNN news assistant, was fatally shot in an early morning shooting on Saturday. She was 25.
Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot/AP
Rescuers conduct search operations at the site of a plane crash in southern China's Guangxi region on Tuesday, March 22. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Fchina%2Fchina-eastern-airlines-plane-crash-tuesday-intl-hnk%2Findex.html" target="_blank">No survivors were found</a> after a China Eastern Airlines plane crashed with 132 people aboard.
Rescuers conduct search operations at the site of a plane crash in southern China's Guangxi region on Tuesday, March 22. No survivors were found after a China Eastern Airlines plane crashed with 132 people aboard.
Zhou Hua/Xinhua/AP
US President Joe Biden is seated second from left, between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as Stoltenberg speaks at a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, March 24. "We gather at a critical time for our security," Stoltenberg said as the meeting convened. "We are determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about an end to this brutal war." <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F24%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Fbiden-trip-belgium-poland%2Findex.html" target="_blank">See more photos from Biden's high-stakes trip to Europe.</a>
US President Joe Biden is seated second from left, between British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as Stoltenberg speaks at a NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium, on Thursday, March 24. "We gather at a critical time for our security," Stoltenberg said as the meeting convened. "We are determined to continue to impose costs on Russia to bring about an end to this brutal war." See more photos from Biden's high-stakes trip to Europe.
Evelyn Hockstein/AP
Horsemen play buzkashi during Persian New Year celebrations in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday, March 18. In buzkashi, players compete to place a goat carcass into a goal circle.
Horsemen play buzkashi during Persian New Year celebrations in Cholpon-Ata, Kyrgyzstan, on Friday, March 18. In buzkashi, players compete to place a goat carcass into a goal circle.
Vyacheslav Oseledko/AFP/Getty Images
A tear rolls down the cheek of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson as US Sen. Cory Booker spoke during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, March 23. The Democratic senator <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fpolitics%2Flive-news%2Fketanji-brown-jackson-hearing-3-23-22%2Fh_2faed24e59f0cfac6b821b53d0e5a2d8" target="_blank">defended Jackson and slammed his GOP colleagues</a> for their treatment of her during the hearing. He spoke about how powerful this moment was for the country, and then spoke of African Americans before her that have made history. "You are my harbinger of hope," Booker said. "This country's getting better and better and better. And when that final vote happens, and you ascend onto the highest court in the land, I'm going to rejoice."
A tear rolls down the cheek of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson as US Sen. Cory Booker spoke during her confirmation hearing on Wednesday, March 23. The Democratic senator defended Jackson and slammed his GOP colleagues for their treatment of her during the hearing. He spoke about how powerful this moment was for the country, and then spoke of African Americans before her that have made history. "You are my harbinger of hope," Booker said. "This country's getting better and better and better. And when that final vote happens, and you ascend onto the highest court in the land, I'm going to rejoice."
Alex Brandon/AP
Singer and daytime talk-show host Kelly Clarkson does a face plant after actress Anne Hathaway <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Fentertainment%2Fkelly-clarkson-anne-hathaway%2Findex.html" target="_blank">defeated her with her own song</a> in a game of "Sing That Name That Tune" on Tuesday, March 22.
Singer and daytime talk-show host Kelly Clarkson does a face plant after actress Anne Hathaway defeated her with her own song in a game of "Sing That Name That Tune" on Tuesday, March 22.
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal
A preserved Sumatran tiger is burned by authorities in Palembang, Indonesia, on Friday, March 18. The Sumatran tiger is a protected species in Indonesia.
A preserved Sumatran tiger is burned by authorities in Palembang, Indonesia, on Friday, March 18. The Sumatran tiger is a protected species in Indonesia.
Antara Foto/Novaa Wahyudi/Reuters
A woman named Olga feeds her 1-month-old daughter as her husband, Dmytro, looks on at the Ohmatdit Children's Hospital in Ukraine. According to a Facebook post from the hospital, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fedition.cnn.com%2Feurope%2Flive-news%2Fukraine-russia-putin-news-03-20-22%2Fh_5b55ab092b9277fafc223f5bbd91a38f" target="_blank">Olga shielded her baby with her body</a> while their home was being shelled in Kyiv. The child was unharmed, but Olga sustained multiple injuries, the post said. <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F18%2Feurope%2Fgallery%2Fparents-ukraine-war-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">More photos: This is what parenting in a war zone looks like</a>
A woman named Olga feeds her 1-month-old daughter as her husband, Dmytro, looks on at the Ohmatdit Children's Hospital in Ukraine. According to a Facebook post from the hospital, Olga shielded her baby with her body while their home was being shelled in Kyiv. The child was unharmed, but Olga sustained multiple injuries, the post said. More photos: This is what parenting in a war zone looks like
Ohmatdit Children's Hospital
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews escort the vehicle carrying the body of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky during his mass funeral in Bnei Brak, Israel, on Sunday, March 20.
Thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews escort the vehicle carrying the body of Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky during his mass funeral in Bnei Brak, Israel, on Sunday, March 20.
Abir Sultan/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock
Princeton's Ellie Mitchell, left, and Indiana's Aleksa Gulbe reach for the ball during an NCAA Tournament game on Monday, March 21. Indiana defeated Princeton 56-55 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Princeton's Ellie Mitchell, left, and Indiana's Aleksa Gulbe reach for the ball during an NCAA Tournament game on Monday, March 21. Indiana defeated Princeton 56-55 to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.
Michael Conroy/AP
A firefighter sprays water inside a house that was destroyed by Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 23.
A firefighter sprays water inside a house that was destroyed by Russian shelling in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Wednesday, March 23.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Kasih the orangutan celebrates her 60th birthday at a zoo in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on Saturday, March 19.
Kasih the orangutan celebrates her 60th birthday at a zoo in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, on Saturday, March 19.
Roberto Pfeil/DPA/Zuma
Pakistan Air Force jets perform during a military parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, March 23. It was for Pakistan Day, a national holiday celebrating the adoption of the country's first constitution.
Pakistan Air Force jets perform during a military parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Wednesday, March 23. It was for Pakistan Day, a national holiday celebrating the adoption of the country's first constitution.
Anjum Naveed/AP
Children in Kingston, Jamaica, wait to catch a glimpse of Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, on Tuesday, March 22. The couple was on a <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F23%2Famericas%2Fwilliam-kate-caribbean-royal-tour-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">weeklong tour of the Caribbean,</a> visiting Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas for a series of engagements to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee.
Children in Kingston, Jamaica, wait to catch a glimpse of Britain's Prince William and his wife Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, on Tuesday, March 22. The couple was on a weeklong tour of the Caribbean, visiting Belize, Jamaica and the Bahamas for a series of engagements to celebrate Queen Elizabeth's platinum jubilee.
Jane Barlow/PA Images/Getty Images
A staff member walks inside the Fire Eye laboratory, a temporary Covid-19 testing facility, before it opened in Yantai, China, on Thursday, March 17.
A staff member walks inside the Fire Eye laboratory, a temporary Covid-19 testing facility, before it opened in Yantai, China, on Thursday, March 17.
AFP/Getty Images
Patrick Jackson, the husband of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, sits behind his wife during her <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F21%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Fketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-hearings%2Findex.html" target="_blank">confirmation hearing</a> on Monday, March 21. Also attending were their daughters Leila, seen here, and Talia.
Patrick Jackson, the husband of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, sits behind his wife during her confirmation hearing on Monday, March 21. Also attending were their daughters Leila, seen here, and Talia.
Sarahbeth Maney/The New York Times/Redux
Taylor Fritz reacts after defeating Rafael Nadal <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F21%2Ftennis%2Ftaylor-fritz-rafael-nadal-indian-wells-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">to win the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament</a> on Sunday, March 20. Fritz won the match 6-3, 7-6. It was Nadal's first loss of 2022, and it was Fritz's first Masters 1000 title.
Taylor Fritz reacts after defeating Rafael Nadal to win the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament on Sunday, March 20. Fritz won the match 6-3, 7-6. It was Nadal's first loss of 2022, and it was Fritz's first Masters 1000 title.
Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP
Men carry torches to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Akra, Iraq, on Sunday, March 20.
Men carry torches to celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in Akra, Iraq, on Sunday, March 20.
Ari Jalal/Reuters
Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas reacts after <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F21%2Fsport%2Fmondo-duplantis-yulimar-rojas-world-records-spt-intl%2Findex.html" target="_blank">breaking her own world record in the triple jump</a> Sunday, March 20, at the World Indoor Championships. She jumped 15.74 meters, seven centimeters further than her previous record of 15.67 meters.
Venezuela's Yulimar Rojas reacts after breaking her own world record in the triple jump Sunday, March 20, at the World Indoor Championships. She jumped 15.74 meters, seven centimeters further than her previous record of 15.67 meters.
Darko Vojinovic/AP
The Retroville shopping mall is seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, after Russian shelling on Monday, March 21.
The Retroville shopping mall is seen in Kyiv, Ukraine, after Russian shelling on Monday, March 21.
Emin Sansar/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
Bayern Munich's Giulia Gwinn heads the ball during a Champions League quarterfinal match in Munich, Germany, on Tuesday, March 22.
Bayern Munich's Giulia Gwinn heads the ball during a Champions League quarterfinal match in Munich, Germany, on Tuesday, March 22.
Matthias Schrader/AP
Members of the press cover the <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F21%2Fpolitics%2Fgallery%2Fketanji-brown-jackson-confirmation-hearings%2Findex.html" target="_blank">confirmation hearings</a> of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Monday, March 21.
Members of the press cover the confirmation hearings of Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson on Monday, March 21.
Sarah Silbiger for CNN
In this screen grab taken from video, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Korsakov, Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveyev are welcomed after arriving at the International Space Station on Friday, March 18. Their yellow flight suits, trimmed with blue, <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F19%2Fpolitics%2Frussian-cosmonauts-ukraine-international-space-station%2Findex.html" target="_blank">raised questions</a> about whether the three were showing solidarity with Ukraine by wearing its national colors. The head of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, said the crew were not representing Ukraine but wearing colors from their alma mater: Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
In this screen grab taken from video, Russian cosmonauts Sergey Korsakov, Oleg Artemyev and Denis Matveyev are welcomed after arriving at the International Space Station on Friday, March 18. Their yellow flight suits, trimmed with blue, raised questions about whether the three were showing solidarity with Ukraine by wearing its national colors. The head of Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, said the crew were not representing Ukraine but wearing colors from their alma mater: Bauman Moscow State Technical University.
Roscosmos/AP
A model displays a creation from Sugarhill, by designer Rikuya Hayashi, during Tokyo Fashion Week on Saturday, March 19.
A model displays a creation from Sugarhill, by designer Rikuya Hayashi, during Tokyo Fashion Week on Saturday, March 19.
Philip Fong/AFP/Getty Images
A woman cleans up a room Monday, March 21, in a building that was damaged by bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine.
A woman cleans up a room Monday, March 21, in a building that was damaged by bombing in Kyiv, Ukraine.
Vadim Ghirda/AP
Phoenix center JaVale McGee falls into spectators while trying to save a ball from going out of bounds during an NBA game against Chicago on Friday, March 18.
Phoenix center JaVale McGee falls into spectators while trying to save a ball from going out of bounds during an NBA game against Chicago on Friday, March 18.
Joe Camporeale/USA Today Sports
"Shot Sage Blue Marilyn," one of Andy Warhol's iconic Marilyn Monroe portraits, is photographed at the Christie's auction house in New York on Monday, March 21. It will go on sale in May, and <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2Fstyle%2Farticle%2Fandy-warhol-shot-sage-blue-marilyn-auction-record%2Findex.html" target="_blank">Christie's is expecting bids "in the region of" $200 million.</a>
"Shot Sage Blue Marilyn," one of Andy Warhol's iconic Marilyn Monroe portraits, is photographed at the Christie's auction house in New York on Monday, March 21. It will go on sale in May, and Christie's is expecting bids "in the region of" $200 million.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, right, claps his hands at the <a href="index.php?page=&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Fcars%2Ftesla-berlin-factory%2Findex.html" target="_blank">opening of a new factory</a> in Grünheide, Germany, on Tuesday, March 22. Tesla will reportedly produce as many as 500,000 vehicles a year at the plant.
Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Tesla CEO, right, claps his hands at the opening of a new factory in Grünheide, Germany, on Tuesday, March 22. Tesla will reportedly produce as many as 500,000 vehicles a year at the plant.
Patrick Pleul/Pool/AP
Pope Francis meets with members of the Italian Federation of Chefs as he holds his weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, March 23.
Pope Francis meets with members of the Italian Federation of Chefs as he holds his weekly general audience at the Vatican on Wednesday, March 23.
Vincenzo Pinto/AFP/Getty Images
Honey bees fly back to their hive in Berlin on Monday, March 21.
Honey bees fly back to their hive in Berlin on Monday, March 21.
Hauke Schrader/DPA/Zuma
College students party on the beach in South Padre Island, Texas, on Saturday, March 19. South Padre Island is one of the top Spring Break destinations in Texas, attracting students from all over the country.
College students party on the beach in South Padre Island, Texas, on Saturday, March 19. South Padre Island is one of the top Spring Break destinations in Texas, attracting students from all over the country.
Brandon Bell/Getty Images
Ukrainian servicemen attend the funeral of Alexandr Khovtun in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, March 20. Khovtun died in combat in the town of Huta-Mezhyhirska.
Ukrainian servicemen attend the funeral of Alexandr Khovtun in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday, March 20. Khovtun died in combat in the town of Huta-Mezhyhirska.
Felipe Dana/AP
Laura Gingrich and Matthew Poetzinger dance near Yoshino cherry trees as they celebrate their engagement in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 22. The city's iconic cherry blossoms were in full bloom. <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cnn.com%2F2022%2F03%2F17%2Fworld%2Fgallery%2Fphotos-this-week-march-10-march-17%2Findex.html" target="_blank">See last week in 35 photos.</a>
Laura Gingrich and Matthew Poetzinger dance near Yoshino cherry trees as they celebrate their engagement in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, March 22. The city's iconic cherry blossoms were in full bloom. See last week in 35 photos.
Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP