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His official social media accounts stated Wednesday (August 20, 2025) he “passed away peacefully” after “a protracted and brave battle with pancreatic most cancers.”
Caprio billed his courtroom as a spot “the place folks and instances are met with kindness and compassion.” He was recognized for dismissing tickets or displaying kindness even when he handed out justice.
Last week, Caprio posted a brief video on Facebook about how he had “a setback,” was again within the hospital and was asking that folks “keep in mind me in your prayers.”
Caprio’s present was filmed in his courtroom and featured his folksy humour and compassion. Clips from the present have had greater than 1 billion views on social media.
During his time on the bench, Caprio developed a persona at odds with many TV judges — extra sympathetic and fewer confrontational and judgmental.
In his bite-sized segments on YouTube, Caprio is usually seen empathizing with these in his courtroom. Many of the infractions are additionally comparatively minor, from failing to make use of a flip sign to a quotation for a loud get together.
Caprio additionally used his fame to handle points like unequal entry to the judicial system.
“The phrase, ‘With liberty and justice for all’ represents the concept justice needs to be accessible to everybody. However it’s not,” Caprio stated in a single video. “Almost 90% of low-income Americans are pressured to battle civil points like well being care, unjust evictions, veterans advantages and, sure, even visitors violations, alone.”
Caprio’s upbeat tackle the job of a choose drew him hundreds of thousands of views. His hottest movies have been these the place he calls youngsters to the bench to assist move judgment on their mother and father. One reveals him listening sympathetically to a lady whose son was killed after which dismissing her tickets and fines of $400.
In one other clip, after dismissing a red-light violation for a bartender who was making $3.84 per hour, Caprio urged these watching the video to not duck out on their payments.
“If anybody’s watching I would like them to know you higher not eat and run as a result of you are going to get caught and the poor people who find themselves working laborious all day for 3 bucks an hour are going to should pay your invoice,” he stated.
On social media, his household described Caprio “as a faithful husband, father, grandfather, nice grandfather and pal.”
“Beloved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering perception within the goodness of individuals, Judge Caprio touched the lives of hundreds of thousands by his work within the courtroom and past,” the household wrote. “His heat, humor, and kindness left an indelible mark on all who knew him.”
State and native politicians mourned his passing and celebrated his life.
“Judge Caprio not solely served the general public effectively, however he related with them in a significant method, and other people couldn’t assist however reply to his heat and compassion,” Rhode Island Gov. Dan McKee stated in a press release. “He was greater than a jurist — he was a logo of empathy on the bench, displaying us what is feasible when justice is tempered with humanity.”
Robert Leonard, who co-owned a restaurant with Caprio, stated he was “going to be sorely missed” and was “throughout great.”
“There is nothing he wouldn’t do for you if he might do it,” Mr. Leonard stated.
Caprio retired from Providence Municipal Court in 2023 after practically 4 many years on the bench.
According to his biography, Caprio got here from humble beginnings, the second of three boys rising up within the Federal Hill neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island.
“I hope that folks will take away that the establishments of presidency can operate very effectively by exercising kindness, equity, and compassion of their deliberations. We stay in a really contentious society,” he stated in 2017. “I’d hope that folks will see that we will dispense justice with out being oppressive.”
