Judge Frank Caprio, the Rhode Island jurist whose gentle, compassionate approach to justice earned him the title of “the nicest judge in the world,” has died aged 88.
The news of his passing was confirmed by his family on Wednesday, following a long and public battle with pancreatic cancer. His son, Frank T. Caprio, announced in a statement that his father had “passed away peacefully,” surrounded by loved ones.
Caprio became a household name in the United States and far beyond through his television show Caught in Providence, a long-running series that captured the real-life proceedings inside the Providence Municipal Court. What might otherwise have been mundane hearings about parking tickets, speeding fines, and minor misdemeanours became must-watch television because of Caprio’s unique style.
Unlike the stern, intimidating figures often associated with the judiciary, Caprio approached defendants with warmth, humour, and empathy. Clips from the courtroom — where he could be seen joking with families, forgiving fines, or listening patiently to people’s stories of hardship — spread rapidly across social media, turning him into a viral sensation.