Rhode Island judge Frank Caprio, known as "the nicest judge in the world", has died after a battle with cancer, according to his social media accounts.
"Unfortunately, I've had a setback. I'm back in the hospital now and I'm coming to you again asking you to remember me in your prayers once more," Mr Caprio said in a recent video, referring to a previous bout of pancreatic cancer.
He became a judge in 1985 and earned his nickname after his stint on the show Caught in Providence, where he was the subject of frequent viral videos due to his compassionate responses to defendants brought before him.
In one case from a 2017 episode, a grieving mother appeared with a stack of parking fines, telling Mr Caprio she was struggling to cope after her son was killed.
The judge dismissed all the penalties and said: "I don't think anyone in their lifetime would ever want to experience that."
Governor Dan McKee ordered that Rhode Island flags fly at half-staff through the day of his interment. He called Mr Caprio a "treasure" who connected with people as "a symbol of empathy on the bench, showing us what is possible when justice is tempered with humanity".
Mr Caprio was a beloved community figure and had millions of followers on social media.
He travelled to the UAE in 2023, where he delivered a speech at the Sharjah International Communication Forum, telling the audience that his visit was motivated by a desire to promote his message that understanding can unite human beings.
"To have a good society, we need to have empathy for others and treat everyone the way we want to be treated," he told The National at the event. "A little compassion can go a long way in helping people solve real-life challenges."
Mr Caprio was due to appear at the same event in Sharjah next month.
Eiman Al Blooshi, an Emirati who met Mr Caprio in his visit to Sharjah’s International Communication Forum in September 2023, said she learnt how to be lenient from the former judge.
“I used to watch his videos from a young age and I couldn’t believe my eyes when I met him during the forum,” she said. "It was a dream come true.
“He inspired me to be lenient and taught me that everything shouldn’t be by the book only. He was a nice and sweet guy. I was praying for him when I learnt that he had the cancer especially after my mother too was diagnosed with cancer.
"I was praying for him like he is a close friend or a relative. He taught me how to be merciful and will always be missed.”
