Maryanne Trump Barry, eldest sister of former President Donald Trump, has passed away at the age of 86. Trump Barry’s legal career began in 1973 as an assistant US attorney in New Jersey. She was nominated to the US District Court for New Jersey in 1984 by President Reagan and elevated to the US Court of Appeals for the Third District by President Clinton in 1999. Throughout her career, she was known as a tough judge with a strong command of her courtroom.
Her brother, Donald Trump, made much of his fortune in real estate, particularly in New York and Atlantic City, where he developed and operated several casinos, including the Trump Taj Mahal. Trump Barry and her brother’s careers intersected in Philadelphia, where the Third District operates.
One of the major legal decisions Trump Barry was involved in was related to sports betting in New Jersey. In 2015, she ruled in a three-judge opinion that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) prevented New Jersey from allowing sports betting in the state. This decision was upheld by the full Third Circuit.
However, in 2017, New Jersey’s appeal to the US Supreme Court was accepted, and the court ruled in favor of New Jersey, stating that PASPA violated anti-commandeering interpretations of the US Constitution and struck down the longstanding law. Since then, 38 states and DC have legalized sports betting.
Maryanne Trump Barry retired in February 2019 amid a probe into her tax filings.
Trump Barry’s passing marks the end of a significant era in the US legal system, and her career will be remembered for its impact on various legal matters.
