Judge Frank Caprio, the jurist called “the nicest judge in the world,” died Wednesday, Aug. 20, after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family confirmed through social media.

The family of the longtime Providence, Rhode Island Municipal Court Chief Judge and star of the reality TV series “Caught in Providence” said in posts on Facebook and Instagram that he would be remembered for warmth, humor, and kindness.

“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” the post reads.

The series offered a look at the day-to-day life of a municipal court, and Caprio, 88, charmed viewers over its two-decade run on local and national television by applying the law with empathy and humor.

“I don’t wear a badge under my robe,” Caprio said more than once. “I wear a heart.”

Caprio announced his cancer diagnosis in December 2023, crediting a “wonderful team of doctors” but acknowledging that he was up against an “insidious form of cancer.” 

In a video posted to Instagram the day before his death, Caprio said that he “had a setback.”

Caprio long-serving stalwart of Rhode Island court

The son of a fruit peddler and stay-at-home mother, Caprio joined the bench in 1985, according to the biography on his website.

He stepped down in 2023 and was given the honorary title of chief judge emeritus, according to The Providence Journal – a part of the USA TODAY Network. Then-Providence Democratic Rep. John Lombardi succeeded Caprio as chief judge of the court.

The “Caught in Providence” YouTube channel continued to publish new videos featuring footage from Caprio’s days in the courtroom after he stepped down, with new content appearing as recently as eight months ago.

The show was nominated for the Outstanding Legal/Courtroom Program Daytime Emmy in 2021, 2022 and 2023 while Caprio was individually nominated for the Outstanding Daytime Personality – Daily award in 2024.

Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee ordered all Rhode Island flags at all state agencies and buildings to be flown at half-staff until Caprio’s internment. He called Caprio a “Rhode Island treasure” in a statement.

“Judge Caprio not only served the public well, but he connected with them in a meaningful way, and people could not help but respond to his warmth and compassion,” McKee wrote. “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.”

Contributing: Providence Journal Staff