These 5 rulings by Judge Caprio prove why he will always be America’s most beloved judge
Judge Frank Caprio may have left this earthly life, but his legacy will live on forever.
Frank Caprio, "America's nicest judge," best known for his show "Caught in Providence," has passed away at 88 after a long battle with pancreatic cancer, reported CNN. Celebrated for his generosity, compassion, and humility, Judge Frank Caprio transformed millions of lives through his presence in the courtroom and beyond. He may have left this earthly life, but his legacy will live on forever. In this article, we’ll look at five instances where the judge went viral for helping people through kindness and selfless acts of service.
View this post on Instagram
1. When a Vietnam veteran asked the judge for no special consideration
Steven Tallow, an Army veteran, arrived at the court with multiple road violations to his name. In his defense, the ex-serviceman confessed he wasn't mindful of the violations. Justifying his actions, Steven said he might have broken rules when he was rushing to the hospital, and the speeding tickets were when he was on his way to drop his daughter off at work.
Moving on, Judge Frank Caprio asked if he was in the forces, and was overwhelmed when Steve informed him he had served in Vietnam for two years. "You know, I have a very particular affinity towards those who served in Vietnam. Number 1 because of the service to our country, and number two because of the way they were treated when they came home," the judge said. To this, Steven said he didn't expect any special treatment for his military service. Judge Frank Caprio, impressed by his humility, praised him and other Vietnam veterans, calling them "real men" who, unfortunately, weren't honored the way they should have been. The total fine was $270, but when the judge realized Steven wouldn't be able to afford the penalty, he reduced it to $25 and said it would be paid off from the contribution the court had received.
2. When a nervous motorist just couldn't lie
Carrie Hopkins, a young woman accused of parking her vehicle in a restricted area, was too nervous to defend herself, and the judge sensed it almost immediately. Hopkins explained that her parents informed her that it was going to snow, so she parked her car on the street while she was at her friend's place.
She confessed to the judge that the towing company that had taken away her car from the street had taken full payment from her, but asked her to present herself at the court as a poor student so she could walk away without any penalty. Judge Frank Caprio was shocked but soon realized the young girl was too naive to understand the towing company's bad advice. Hence, he let the girl go without charging a penny. "One thing you can't fake is a smile, and she had a genuine one," the judge said, reflecting upon his judgment.
3. When a woman said she wouldn't waste his time because she's guilty
Joanne, an elderly woman, arrived at the court with multiple road violations that she said she was unaware of. When Judge Frank Caprio said he would play the clips of the instances she had broken rules, Joanne immediately said, "No, I don't want to look at it because everybody else looked at it, and they were guilty, so I don't want to see it." Hearing her, the entire courtroom burst out laughing, including Judge Frank Caprio.
She muttered through a chuckle, "Not gonna waste your time, I'm not even gonna bother [watching it]." She kept on insisting against playing the videos, but the judge was adamant. After watching the first two clips, the judge dismissed the charges because the road markings were confusing. However, based on the rest of the violations, the court charged Joanne with $170, which was way too much for her to pay. The judge again played a few clips and reduced the penalty to $85, asking Joanne to pay it within a month.
4. When a boy almost put his mom in jail
Katie Wallace, a mom who brought her five kids to the court, was accused of overspeeding, and mind you, her son, Alex, wanted her to spend 5 days in jail. Yes, that's right! Judge Frank Caprio asked Alex — the one Wallace claimed was the most talkative — to join him for the final verdict and asked if his mother was "guilty or not guilty." He gleefully responded, "Not!" But when asked if they should "fine her some money" or "let her go for nothing," Alex enthusiastically said, "Yes money!" Eventually, the judge asked, "How about 5 days in jail?" Alex, carrying on the same energy, yelled, "Yes!" Ultimately, the judge asked the boy to say he wanted Frank to dismiss the case, and as Alex followed, Judge Frank Caprio dropped the case, setting Wallace free.
5. When a straight-A student got a break for running a red light
A student who performed exceptionally well in her finals went to celebrate her achievement and her friend's birthday late at night, but she ran into trouble when she violated the red light. The woman shared about her course, and the judge was impressed when she said she was a part-time tutor and would often study in the campus library. Judge Frank Caprio played the clip and said she really had no excuse to justify her violation.
Moving on, he asked her to name all the subjects she got A's in and joked that she performed well in "common sense," lightheartedly mocking her for breaking traffic rules. The judge then explained to her that he was proud of her for performing so well in academics and would reward her for her dedication. He set her free, but not before asking her to visit after she completes her studies.
More on Scoop Upworthy
Judge Frank Caprio shows mercy on driver who ran a red light after learning why he did it
Share on Facebook
