One of social media's beloved judges, Frank Caprio, recently passed away at the age of 88 after battling pancreatic cancer, as reported by multiple media outlets on August 20, 2025.The former Chief Judge of the Municipal Court of Providence was dubbed the "nicest judge in the world", given that he had a huge fanbase owing to the show Caught in Providence. While Caught in Providence started as a local show, it was picked up by ABC's local affiliate WLNE for a run on Saturday nights in 2000. Eventually, Debmar-Mercury picked up the Caught in Providence in 2018 for national syndication, and it ran for 2 seasons until Caprio's retirement in 2020.The late judge's obituary on social media (Image via Facebook/ @Frank Caprio)However, numerous clips from the show have garnered billions of views on TikTok, YouTube, and other platforms, owing to Frank Caprio's "compassion, humility, and unwavering belief in the goodness of people," as described in the social media post announcing his passing.While Caught in Providence is an actual show, in a 2019 interview with Rhode Island Monthly, the late Judge clarified:“All the segments of court in Providence are actual court proceedings, so it’s not a program and it’s not a court show, it’s actual real proceedings that are being televised. We show a slice of life of Rhode Island that is very interesting, and it reflects the same issues people are experiencing nationwide.”The Facebook post announcing Frank Caprio's demise mentioned that he "touched the lives of millions through his work in the courtroom and beyond." The post also mentioned that the former judge's humor, kindness, and warmth-like qualities left an "indelible mark" on people who knew him.Caprio's obituary described him not just as a respected judge but also as a "devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend" whose legacy would live on through the acts of kindness that he inspired.When Frank Caprio opened up about contemplating Caught in Providence: "I didn’t like the idea actually"Frank Caprio was born in Providence, RI, on November 24, 1936, and was the middle one of three sons. The former judge came from humble beginnings, given that his father, Antonio, was a fruit peddler who emigrated from Teano, Italy, and his mother, Filomena, had family roots in Naples.According to The Times of India's report dated August 21, 2025, Frank Caprio attended Central High School, where he availed of a state wrestling championship in 1953. After completing high school, Caprio earned a 3A from Providence College in 1958, followed by a stint of teaching American government at Hope High School. At the time, the former judge attended night classes at the Suffolk University Law School in Boston. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostFrank Caprio also served in the Rhode Island Army National Guard between 1954 to 1962, followed by his place in the Providence City Council from 1962 to 1968. In 1985, Caprio became the Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court and retired from the post in 2023.During his interview with Rhode Island Monthly, Frank Caprio reflected on his wife Joyce suggesting how a local-access TV stint would show him a work behind the judge's bench. Reflecting on how he wasn't completely on board with Caught in Providence at the time, Caprio said:"I didn’t like the idea actually, but of course, when my wife makes a suggestion, I usually don’t win that battle. I agreed we would try it and see if it was something that worked. And there was an overwhelmingly positive response.”In addition to his influence on netizens and the people in his courtroom, Caprio's former courtroom was renamed 'The Chief Judge Frank Caprio Courtroom' after his retirement. Additionally, he also made an appearance as a judge in a 2007 episode of Showtime's Brotherhood. Caprio is survived by his wife Joyce Caprio, their 5 children, 7 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren. Additionally, the former judge released his memoir titled 'Compassion in the Court: Life-Changing Stories from America's Nicest Judge' on February 4, 2025.