A United States judge who had a massive social media fan base because of clips of his compassion in the courtroom, Frank Caprio is dead.
A statement on Wednesday on his Instagram page, which had 3.2 million followers, said he had died aged 88 “after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer”.
It said he was “beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people.”
Known as the ‘nicest judge in the world’, Caprio was on the bench at a court in Providence, Rhode Island, for almost four decades.
He became compassionately recognised after viral videos of him handing out justice with a smile were viewed more than a billion times on social media.
The latter years of his career, which ended in 2023, were documented in the TV show Caught In Providence.
Caprio had posted a message from his hospital bed the day before his death, 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 persona was at odds with fellow TV judges, who were less sympathetic and more confrontational.
In one popular clip, he dismissed a traffic ticket handed to a bartender who skipped a red light, as they were only earning less than $4 (£2.97) an hour.
Another featured him listening sympathetically to a woman whose son had been killed, before dismissing her tickets and fines, which had totalled $400 (£297).
Caprio also used his fame to speak out about inequality 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.
After his death was announced, Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee paid tribute to his “warmth and compassion”.
“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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