‘SYMBOL OF EMPATHY’

Beloved ‘Caught in Providence’ Judge Dies at 88

Judge Frank Caprio’s decades on the bench—and millions of online fans—cemented his legacy as a symbol of compassion.

Frank Caprio, the chief judge of the municipal court of Providence, Rhode Island, who became a global sensation for his compassionate rulings on the hit reality show Caught in Providence, died Wednesday following a long battle with pancreatic cancer, Boston’s NBC10 reported. He was 88 years old. Frequently referred to as the “nicest judge in the world” because of the empathy he showed while doling out justice, Caprio spent more than 35 years on the bench, softening the courtroom with both his kindness and humor—and gaining millions of fans in the process. “He will be remembered not only as a respected judge, but as a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend,” read the statement announcing his death. Rhode Island Gov. Daniel McKee ordered all state flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Caprio, whom he described as “a treasure” and “a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity.”