Frank Caprio: 'Nicest judge in the world' dies aged 88 after cancer diagnosis

A US judge who gained online fame for his compassion in the courtroom has died at the age of 88.

Frank Caprio, a retired municipal judge in Rhode Island, died after “a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer”, a statement on his official Instagram account said.

Caprio billed his courtroom as a place “where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion.” He was known for dismissing tickets or showing kindness even when handing out justice.

Last week, he posted a short video on Facebook about how he had “a setback,” was back in the hospital and was asking that people “remember me in your prayers.”

Frank Caprio found fame online for his kindness in the courtroom. / Credit: AP

Following his death, his family described him “as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.”

“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the family wrote online. “His warmth, humour, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”

His kindness, seen in his show Caught in Providence, earned him the title of the “nicest judge in the world”.

Clips from the show, which was filmed in his courtroom and featured his folksy humour and compassion, have surpassed more than one billion views on social media.

In his bite-sized segments on YouTube, Caprio is often seen empathising with those in his courtroom. Many of the infractions are also relatively minor, from failing to use a turn signal to a citation for a loud party.

One popular clip sees Caprio listen sympathetically to a woman whose son was killed, and he then dismisses her tickets and fines of $400 (£298).

In another clip, after dismissing a red-light violation for a barman who was making $3.84 (£2.86) per hour, Caprio urged those watching the video not to duck out on their bills.

“If anyone’s watching I want them to know you better not eat and run because you’re going to get caught, and the poor people who are working hard all day for three bucks an hour are going to have to pay your bill,” he said.

Caprio also used his fame to address issues like unequal access to the judicial system.

“The phrase, ‘With liberty and justice for all,’ represents the idea that justice should be accessible to everyone. However, it is not,” Caprio said in one video. “Almost 90% of low-income Americans are forced to battle civil issues like health care, unjust evictions, veterans’ benefits and, yes, even traffic violations, alone.”

His upbeat take on the job of a judge drew him millions of views. His most popular videos have been those where he calls children to the bench to help pass judgment on their parents.

After his death was announced, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee paid tribute to his “warmth and compassion”.

“He was more than a jurist – he was a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity,” he said.

Robert Leonard, who co-owned a restaurant with Caprio, said he was “going to be sorely missed” and was “all around wonderful.”

“There is nothing he wouldn’t do for you if he could do it,” Leonard said.

Caprio retired from Providence Municipal Court in 2023 after nearly four decades on the bench.

According to his biography, Caprio was the second of three boys growing up in the Federal Hill neighbourhood of Providence, Rhode Island.

“I hope that people will take away that the institutions of government can function very well by exercising kindness, fairness, and compassion in their deliberations. We live in a very contentious society,” he said in 2017.

“I would hope that people will see that we can dispense justice without being oppressive.”