Known as America’s Nicest Judge, one of his memorable phrases became iconic: “Your case is dismissed.”
Editorial (August 22, 2025, 11:13 AM, Gaudium Press) – Frank Caprio was nothing more than a humble judge, yet he achieved almost global “virality” thanks to media exposure. His passing on August 20 at the age of 88, after nearly 40 years serving as a judge at the municipal court of Providence, Rhode Island, USA, is making headlines worldwide.
It all began in 1999, when the television program “Caught in Providence” started airing, showcasing his work as a judge. Gradually, the show gained popularity and eventually became widely viewed, not only in the United States.
Judge Caprio handled minor cases—parking tickets, speeding violations—but his style captivated increasingly larger audiences. Meanwhile, there was something not as widely known about this endearing man in robes: he was a devout Catholic.
In February, Caprio told Colm Flynn of EWTN about a life lesson his father, an Italian immigrant, had taught him: “What might seem like a small fine to some could be something others simply couldn’t afford to pay.” “That’s why I always asked, ‘Tell me a little about what’s going on in your life,’” the judge recounted. Naturally, this made his court shows not just about legal procedures, but about stories of real life.
“Your case is dismissed”
One of his memorable phrases became iconic: “Your case is dismissed.”
But, as criticism never fails to appear—whether one wears white or black robes—he once responded to other judges who accused him of being too lenient: “I simply put myself in the shoes of the person in front of me.” That reveals the mark his father left on him.
One of the most widely viewed episodes features Judge Caprio dismissing a fine for a charming 96-year-old man who had failed to pay a ticket. It turned out the man was driving his son, who had cancer, to a medical appointment. The judge not only dismissed the case but publicly praised the elderly man, someone who was still caring for his son even as he approached 100 years of age. When that man turned 100, Judge Caprio made it a point to celebrate with him.
The son of Neapolitan immigrants, Frank Caprio studied in public schools, as his family was poor. He fondly recalled how his father, who sold fruit and milk from a cart, would wake him and his brothers at 4 a.m. to start the milk route: “I had the most privileged childhood you could imagine,” he said. “I had the privilege of growing up poor.”
His father already sensed his future in the legal field: “Someday you’ll be a lawyer,” he told him at age 12, “but you won’t be allowed to charge the poor—people like us.” While teaching civics at Hope High School, Frank attended Suffolk University School of Law at night. He passed the bar in 1965, became a judge in 1985, and remained on the bench until retiring in 2023.
That same year, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer—one of the most aggressive forms.
A genuine Catholic, he traveled to Lourdes in 2024 to pray to the Virgin Mary for healing. There, in the grotto of Massabielle, he sang the Ave Maria to the Virgin, describing the moment as profoundly spiritual.
After learning of his diagnosis, Caprio took to social media to ask for prayers, saying: “I have deep and steadfast faith in the Catholic Church, in Jesus, in the power of prayer.” He later said he felt strength flowing from those prayers.
He affirmed that his faith in God and the prayers of his followers were what kept him going.
One day before his death, he posted a video on Facebook once more asking people to pray for him.
Judge Caprio is survived by his wife, Joyce, and their five children: Frank, David, Marissa, John, and Paul. He also leaves behind seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
In 2025, he published his memoir: Compassion in the Court: Life-Changing Stories from America’s Nicest Judge.
Among his many achievements, one stands out at Suffolk University School of Law: the creation of the Antonio “Tup” Caprio Scholarship Fund, named in honor of his father, to support Rhode Island students committed to improving access to legal services in the state’s poor and urban neighborhoods. He also created scholarships at Providence College and for graduates of Central High School, all honouring his father’s legacy.
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj with information from ACI Prensa.
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