Providence, Rhode Island, USA – Judge Frank Caprio, the longtime Providence Municipal Court judge whose compassion and fairness made him a global figure through his reality series Caught in Providence, has died at the age of 88.
Caprio passed away on August 20, 2025, following a prolonged battle with pancreatic cancer, which he publicly disclosed in late 2023. His family confirmed the news, describing him as “a man who embodied kindness, humility, and justice.”
Known affectionately as the “Nicest Judge in the World,” Caprio became a household name after videos of his courtroom interactions went viral. His ability to blend the law with empathy—often dismissing tickets for struggling defendants or sharing light-hearted moments with children—earned him widespread admiration. In 2018, Caught in Providence was nationally syndicated, and Caprio received multiple Daytime Emmy nominations.
Tributes poured in following his passing. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee called him a “state treasure” and ordered flags flown at half-staff. “Judge Caprio symbolized empathy on the bench and showed the world that justice can be both fair and compassionate,” McKee said.
Caprio, born in Providence in 1936, taught high school while pursuing law at night before being appointed to the Providence Municipal Court in 1985. He served as Chief Judge until his retirement in 2023, leaving behind nearly four decades of public service.
In his final months, Caprio continued to connect with his audience. Just days before his passing, he released a video from his hospital bed asking followers to “remember me in your prayers.”
A touching reminder of his legacy resurfaced recently when a video of him surprising Victor Colella—a man whose traffic ticket he once dismissed—on his 100th birthday went viral, highlighting the lifelong bonds he built through compassion.
Funeral services will be held in Providence, with calling hours on August 28 and a Funeral Mass on August 29, where family, friends, and admirers will gather to honor his extraordinary life.
Judge Frank Caprio leaves behind not only a legal legacy but also an enduring reminder that justice, when paired with kindness, can touch hearts far beyond the courtroom.
