Would you be nervous if you were up for the job at the highest court of the land and you needed to not only impress — but win over people who would soon put you through the wringer on everything from college acquaintances to who does your hair?

OK, we may be exaggerating a bit on the hair part, but the point is, Sonia Sotomayor has to be prepared to answer all sorts of questions — everything from questions about her judicial career, the New Haven, CT, case involving white firefighters and alleged race-based hiring practices, to inquiries about personal experiences, gay marriage, abortion and other topics — when she meets with senators and, later, goes before the Senate Judiciary Committee for confirmation this summer. She’s likely to get hammered on those accusations that she’s racist toward white men. Today, she begins her meet-and-greet on Capitol Hill when she sits down with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.

"I think she is going to make a great impression on everyone she sees," said Sen. Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat who, along with fellow New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, is Sotomayor’s biggest cheerleader in the Senate. "She looks good on paper, but when you meet her, you’re even more impressed."

But the confirmation process won’t go down without some fight. More than 145 conservatives — including Gary Bauer and Manuel Miranda, chairman of the conservative Third Branch Conference — are demanding that Senate Republicans take a harder line on Sotomayor, which could include a filibuster to stall her nomination. Miranda even told Politico that McConnell should "consider resigning" as Senate minority leader if he can’t do the job, calling him "limp-wristed" and "a little bit tone deaf."

Senate Republicans say they’re in no hurry to confirm her, and want to be good and sure they go through every potential area of concern in her record. But the hope is she’s ready to take her seat on the bench October 1. Between now and then, she’ll need nerves of steel and a sharp mind and wit to get through the process. Being that she’s a born-and-bred New Yorker from the Bronx, we have little doubt she’ll come through with flying colors on that end!