Frank Caprio, US judge nicknamed ‘nicest judge in the world,’ dies at 88

Frank Caprio, the Rhode Island judge in the United States (US) whose courtroom clips drew millions of viewers online, has died at 88.

Caprio served for nearly 40 years in Providence, where his kind approach earned him the nickname “nicest judge in the world,” according to NBC Boston. Videos of his rulings, often showing moments of empathy, were viewed more than a billion times across social media.

The final years of his career, which ended in 2023, were featured in the TV series Caught in Providence.

A statement posted Wednesday on his Instagram page, which had 3.2 million followers, said he died “after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.” It added he was “beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people.”

Just a day earlier, Caprio had shared a video from his hospital bed, saying: “Unfortunately, I’ve had a setback, I’m back in the hospital now, and I’m coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more.”

Caprio’s courtroom style contrasted with that of other TV judges, who often leaned toward confrontation. In one widely shared clip, he forgave a traffic ticket given to a bartender earning under $4 an hour. In another, he listened to a woman whose son had been killed, before dismissing $400 in fines.

He also used his platform to speak about inequities in the justice system. “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,” he said in one video.

Following his death, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee praised his legacy. “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,” McKee said.

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