Frank Caprio, the friendly and folk municipal judge of Rhode Island, who has become the star of Youtube, dies at 88

His official accounts on social networks said on Wednesday that he “died peacefully” after “a long and courageous battle against pancreatic cancer”.

Caprio billed his courtroom as a place “where people and business are met with kindness and compassion”. He was known to have rejected the tickets or showed kindness even when he did justice.

Last week, Caprio published a short video on Facebook on the way he had “a setback”, was back in the hospital and asked that people “remember me in your prayers”.

The Caprio show was shot in its courtroom and presented its folk humor and compassion. The show’s clips had more than a billion views on social networks.

During his stay on the bench, Caprio developed a character in contradiction with many television judges – more sympathetic and less conflicting and tried.

In its segments the size of a bite on YouTube, Caprio is often seen sympathizing with those in its courtroom. Many offenses are also relatively minor, not to use a quote turn signal for a noisy party.

Caprio also used its fame to solve problems such as unequal access to the legal system.

“The expression,” with freedom and justice for all “represents the idea that justice should be accessible to everyone. This is not the case,” said Caprio in a video. “Almost 90% of low -income Americans are forced to combat civilian problems such as health care, unjust expulsions, the advantages of veterans and, yes, even traffic offenses, alone.”

The optimistic point of view of a judge’s Caprio has attracted millions of views. His most popular videos were those where he calls children on the bench to help make judgment on their parents. We show him to listen with sympathy a woman whose son was killed, then reject his tickets and his fines of $ 400.

In another clip, after rejecting a violation of the red light for a bartender who won $ 3.84 per hour, Caprio urged those who watched the video not getting rid of their bills.

“If someone looks at, I want them to know that you would better eat and run because you are going to get caught and the poor who work hard all day for three dollars per hour will have to pay your bill,” he said.

His fame has reached China, where clips from her show have been downloaded on social networks in recent years. Some fans posted on his death, recalling and praising the humanity he has shown in his decisions.

His family described Caprio “like a dedicated husband, a father, a grandfather, a great-grandfather and a friend”.

“Liked for his compassion, his humility and his unwavering belief in the goodness of people, Judge Caprio touched the lives of millions of people through his work in the courtroom and beyond,” wrote the family online. “His warmth, his humor and his kindness left an indelible mark on all those who knew him.”

State and local politicians cried his death and celebrated his life.

“Judge Caprio not only served the public well, but he connected with them significantly, and people could not help responding his heat and compassion,” said Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee in a statement. “He was more than a lawyer – he was a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered by humanity.”

Robert Leonard, who was a co -owner of a restaurant with Caprio, said that he was “going to be very missed” and was “all around”.

“There is nothing that he would not do for you if he could do it,” said Leonard.

Caprio retired from the municipal court of Providence in 2023 after almost four decades on the bench.

According to his biography, Caprio came from Humble Beginnings, the second of the three boys who grew in the federal district of the Hill of Providence, Rhode Island.

“I hope that people will remove that government institutions will be able to work very well by exercising kindness, fairness and compassion in their deliberations. We live in a very controversial society,” he said in 2017. “I hope people will see that we can give justice without being oppressive.”

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Leblanc, a journalist from Associated Press who retired in January, was the main writer of this Bill. The writers of the associated press Michael Casey in Boston, Audrey McAvoy in Honolulu and Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed.