Even if the 2016 presidential election had turned out differently — if, say, Donald Trump had been bested in the primaries and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) or Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) had squared off against Hillary Clinton — it is likely that the sister of the eventual 45th president would still be featured in this space. Whether or not her brother had ever become president, Maryanne Trump Barry was a woman of substance, achievement, and conservative temperament and intellect.

Barry, who died on Nov. 13 at age 86, was an assistant United States attorney, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, and an appellate judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit. Like the recently departed James L. Buckley, the U.S. senator and appellate judge who happened to be brother to William F. Buckley, Barry had the advantages and the baggage of having a famous and controversial public sibling, but also like James Buckley, Barry could point to her distinct accomplishments.