Judge Frank Caprio: The “Nicest Judge in the World” Who Made Justice Human

Judge Frank Caprio, famed as “the nicest judge in the world,”

has passed away after a courageous battle with cancer, leaving a profound sense of loss.

His courtroom in Providence, Rhode Island, was rare: a place where compassion met justice, and mercy often prevailed.

With patience, warmth, and a fatherly presence, he transformed routine hearings into lessons in humanity.

Born to Italian immigrants in Federal Hill, Caprio balanced teaching American government with law studies, embodying perseverance and integrity.

He often said teaching and judging shared the same goal: listening, guiding, and believing in people’s capacity to do better.

Caprio became a global figure when videos of his courtroom went viral, amassing over

1.7 billion views and inspiring the TV show Caught in Providence.

Behind the fame was sincerity — a belief that law should serve life, not crush it.

Married over sixty years, Caprio leaves a legacy of love, faith, and mercy, proving that justice is strongest when tempered with compassion.