Frank Caprio, America's 'kindest judge,' dies at 88

Frank Caprio, known worldwide as "America's kindest judge," died at 88 after battling pancreatic cancer.

The news was confirmed by his family in a statement on Instagram, where they remembered him as a man "loved for his compassion, humility, and unwavering faith in the goodness of people."

Caprio gained notoriety for his unique courtroom style, based on understanding and closeness to defendants. "I always put myself in the shoes of the person in front of me," he stated in multiple interviews. This approach made him a leading figure both within and outside the American judicial system.

His approach to justice brought him closer to international audiences, who hailed him as a judge who managed to balance the application of the law with an understanding of human circumstances.

In 2023, he retired from his position, and in 2025, he publicly revealed that he had pancreatic cancer. "I've lived a blessed life. I'm not going to let this define my later years," he declared in one of his final interviews, in which he asked for prayers and expressed gratitude for the support he received.

He also captured his experience in the book "Compassion in the Courtroom: Life-Changing Stories from America's Kindest Judge," where he summarized his philosophy: "Be kind to others, be slow to judge, and always show mercy."