Judge Frank Caprio passed away on 20/8 at the age of 88, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. Millions mourned him, praising him as the "world's most compassionate judge" or "America's kindest judge".

He was a former judge in Providence, Rhode Island, known globally through the reality TV show *Caught in Providence*, which documented his proceedings at the city's municipal court.

He inspired many with his humane and approachable judicial style, often listening to the stories of those who committed minor offenses like running red lights or parking violations in Providence, and then issuing rulings that were both firm and compassionate.

Judge Frank Caprio in the courtroom of the Providence Municipal Court, Rhode Island. Photo: Providence Journal

Judge Frank Caprio in the courtroom of the Providence Municipal Court, Rhode Island. Photo: Providence Journal

Frank Caprio was born in 1936, the second of three sons in Federal Hill, the Italian-American neighborhood of Providence. His father emigrated from Teano, Italy, to the US, making a living selling fruit and delivering milk. His mother was from Naples.

He worked hard from a young age, washing dishes and shining shoes to earn money while attending high school. His father would wake up the three brothers at 4 a.m. to deliver milk together, telling them, "If you don't want to deliver milk for the rest of your lives, you better study.".

Mr. Caprio graduated from Providence College in 1958 and then taught at Hope High School while attending evening law classes at Suffolk University Law School in Boston.

Mr. Caprio began his public service on the Providence City Council from 1962 to 1968. After practicing law and engaging in politics, he became Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court in 1985, serving until his retirement in 2023. He and his wife had 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.

His appeal on *Caught in Providence* was immense. Videos of his court sessions have garnered over 1 billion views on social media.

In one famous episode, Judge Caprio dismissed the case against a 96-year-old man who was speeding while taking his son, who had cancer, to a medical appointment.

Judge Frank Caprio dismisses the case against a 96-year-old man speeding while taking his son to a medical appointment. Video: Youtube/Caught in Providence

When asked about his judicial philosophy, Judge Caprio said that when considering minor offenses like illegal parking or speeding, he always remembered his father's advice: "What may seem like a small fine to some can be unbearable for others".

That's why he always asked defendants to explain their circumstances and tried to put himself in their shoes. He also relied on "common sense," making rulings based on his observations and real-life experiences rather than mechanically applying regulations and laws. He strived to avoid rulings that would worsen the situations of both the defendant and the city.

He cited the case of a single mother who couldn't afford to raise her children and faced about 800 USD in fines for repeatedly parking in prohibited areas.

"I could have revoked her license, which might have seemed reasonable given her financial situation. But I didn't, because if her license were revoked, she would still drive illegally to make a living, and then she would be back in court, and further violations would lead to criminal court," he said, "That's why I empathize with difficult situations and demonstrate fairness and understanding in the judicial system".

In another famous episode, he invited 5-year-old Jacob to the bench to help him decide the penalty for Jacob's father's illegal parking.

Judge Caprio gave Jacob three options: pay the full 90 USD fine, reduce it to 30 USD, or waive it. Jacob chose the 30 USD fine, making everyone in the courtroom laugh.

Mr. Caprio praised the boy for choosing the middle ground, then ruled that Jacob's father, a chef, would be exempt from the fine if he took Jacob to breakfast. "I like bacon," the boy said.

Judge Frank Caprio during Jacob's father's trial. Video: Youtube/Caught in Providence

Judge Caprio said that for most people, especially children, the courtroom can be intimidating.

"In their eyes, it's a solemn, wood-paneled room, with a stern judge and armed bailiffs. I try to make the court less frightening, to inject a bit of humor," Mr. Caprio said.

"Sometimes, I bring children up to the bench to help me make rulings. These experiences will stay with them for life, creating a more positive impression of government institutions," he explained.

Mr. Caprio also established scholarship funds to help disadvantaged students pursue legal careers. After he retired, the city of Providence renamed the courtroom the Frank Caprio Chief Judge's Chambers in his honor.

When asked why *Caught in Providence* was so popular, Mr. Caprio said it might be because many people around the world feel they haven't been treated fairly by the courts.

"They feel disregarded and disrespected. In the hundreds of thousands of comments I've received, the most frequent words are empathy, understanding, and fairness. I think we've given them hope through our rulings," he said.

Duc Trung (According to Washington Post, AP)