Rhode Island municipal judge Frank Caprio passed away on Wednesday at the age of 88. Caprio, known for his compassion in the courtroom, gained widespread recognition online and was a host of the show “Caught in Providence”.
After serving as a judge at the Providence City Court in Rhode Island for nearly forty years, Caprio retired in 2023.
In a post on his official social media account on Wednesday, it was mentioned that he passed away peacefully after a “long and brave battle with pancreatic cancer”. Last week, he shared a video on Facebook discussing facing setbacks and requested people to “keep me in your prayers”.
Caprio’s video clips were filmed in his courtroom, showcasing his rural humor and compassion. These clips have garnered over one billion views on social media.
During his tenure as a judge, Caprio distinguished himself from many TV judges by displaying deep compassion, rarely interrogating or confronting litigants. He stated that his courtroom was a place of “treating litigants and cases with kindness and compassion”. He was known for waiving fines or showing leniency in administering justice.
The cases he presided over were relatively minor, from failure to signal a lane change to disruptive noise complaints at parties. However, he used his reputation to comfort individuals facing legal injustices.
In a video, he stated, “Equal justice and liberty for all are ideals; it is not the reality. Nearly 90% of low-income Americans are left alone to deal with various civil issues such as healthcare, unfair evictions, reduced veteran benefits, and even traffic violations”.
Caprio’s optimism and empathy attracted millions of viewers, with the most popular videos involving him having children help decide their parents’ right or wrong choices from the judge’s bench.
In one video segment, he listened sympathetically to a grieving woman whose son was killed, subsequently waiving her fine and $400 penalty. In another clip, Caprio dismissed a fine for a hotel service worker earning $3.84 per hour for running a red light, urging viewers not to evade their fines.
Caprio’s reputation extended to China, with related videos uploaded to Chinese social media platforms, where fans shared news of his passing, reminiscing and praising his humaneness in judicial decisions.
Caprio’s family described him as a “dedicated husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend”, noting the love and admiration he received for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in human kindness that touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and elsewhere, leaving an indelible mark on all who knew him.
Rhode Island government officials and local politicians expressed their condolences for his passing, praising his contributions to society.
Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee stated in a release, “Judge Caprio not only provided excellent service to the public but also connected with the public in a meaningful way, serving as a symbol of empathy that judges should embody, showing us the power that emerges when law intertwines with humanity.”
The governor continued, “I hope people can see that government institutions can operate very effectively by employing kindness, fairness, and compassion in their deliberations, even in a society filled with controversy, we can still uphold justice without oppressing others.”
(Reference to the report by the Associated Press)