A Judge Who Didn’t Judge: By Diran Avagyan

If you ever watched “Caught in Providence,” then you probably know the Honorable Judge Frank Caprio – the judge who didn’t judge. The news of his passing has deeply saddened me, as one more kind soul has departed from this world.

I liked watching Judge Caprio’s court sessions because they featured real stories from real life – raw, fragmented, and rough.

One of the many stories that touched me was about a young man who walked five miles to appear before the court, only to admit his guilt and accept responsibility for his mistake. Impressed by the man’s honesty, Judge Caprio not only dismissed the case but also gave him money for an Uber ride. Truly, “mercy triumphed over judgment” (James 2:13).

The Honorable Judge was a man of faith, forgiveness, and compassion. In every person who appeared before him, he perceived God’s grace, as well as the values and qualities that defined their humanity.

In life, we are often too quick to judge and label people, even for their smallest mistakes. We define them by their faults and condemn them to perpetual guilt and shame. Yet in one of the prayers of the Divine Liturgy we plead with God: “Do not remember our sins, but absolve them in Your mercy and compassion.” If we expect God to forgive our sins, how much more forgiving must we be toward one another? Judge Caprio’s approach mirrored God’s heart – seeking repentance, not punishment.

In memory of the Honorable Judge Frank Caprio – a courageous fighter who outlived his cancer diagnosis by a year and a half and entered eternal rest on August 20, 2025 – let us spread kindness, practice forgiveness, and place human dignity and integrity above judgment.