Frank Caprio, ‘kindest judge in the world,’ dies at 88

Frank Caprio, a retired municipal judge from Rhode Island who gained widespread online fame for his compassionate approach to justice, passed away peacefully on Monday at the age of 88.

Best known as the host of ABC’s series Caught in Providence, Judge Caprio was celebrated for treating people with kindness even while upholding the law. As he once described his courtroom, it was “a place where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion,” CNN reported.

A statement on Caprio’s popular Facebook page announced his passing:
“Judge Frank Caprio passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, he touched millions through his work both inside and outside the courtroom.”

The post continued: “His warmth, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him. In his honor, may we each strive to bring more compassion into the world—just as he did every day.”

Caprio’s videos, showing him treating defendants with empathy and respect, amassed over a billion views on social media and earned him the nickname “the nicest judge in the world,” according to Time magazine. In clips shared on YouTube, he can be seen connecting deeply with those who appeared before him, while also using his platform to highlight issues like unequal access to justice.

One particularly memorable moment came in 2019 when Caprio’s compassionate interaction with Ahmad Salman, a Pakistani immigrant student facing three parking tickets, went viral. The judge not only dismissed the fines but later invited Salman to join his family for Sunday dinner, as featured by Caught in Providence in 2022.

Judge Caprio’s son revealed in a video statement that his father had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer two years earlier. “It was the love and support from all of you that lifted his spirits and gave him the strength to fight on, outliving his diagnosis by a year and a half,” he said.

Caprio served as chief judge of the Providence Municipal Court from 1985 until 2023. He is survived by his wife, Joyce Caprio, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.