US celebrity judge and social media star Frank Caprio has died aged 88, his family has said. Over a 40-year career in Rhode Island, he famously used compassion and humour to make judgements that took into consideration the personal circumstances of the people in the dock.

The Rhode Island jurist passed away after a battle with pancreatic cancer, his family announced on social media. Caprio served as chief judge of the municipal court of Providence, Rhode Island, from 1985 to 2023. He is survived by his wife Joyce Caprio, five children, seven grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.