Spanish
Retired Rhode Island municipal judge and host of the court show "Caught in Providence," Frank Caprio, died this Wednesday at the age of 88 after a "long and courageous battle" against pancreatic cancer, his official social media announced.
Caprio served as a judge of the Providence Municipal Court since 1985, his court gained worldwide recognition thanks to the program "Caught in Providence", nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award in 2021, in which he resolved minor infractions with "empathy and humor", according to his community of followers.
The judge became a viral and beloved figure on social media; on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, he accumulated about 3.5 million subscribers, and his streamed audiences reached up to 450,000 views.
Its popularity was also the subject of controversy, the local newspaper "The Providence Journal" reported that the Rhode Island Ethics Commission examined whether Caprio was obtaining personal benefits from the program "Caught in Providence", produced by his family, while serving as a municipal judge.
However, the body concluded that it had not violated the rules, as it had official authorization to allow the recording of the hearings in its court.
Judge Caprio was not only a public servant, but he "connected in a significant way, people couldn't help but respond to his warmth and compassion. He was more than a jurist: he was a symbol of empathy in the courtroom, showing us what is possible when justice is combined with humanity", highlighted Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee in a statement released after the judge's death.
McKee ordered that flags at all state agencies and buildings fly at half-staff in memory of the magistrate.
According to his biography, Caprio came from humble beginnings: he was the second of three children who grew up in the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence.
