Frank Caprio (judge)
Encyclopedia
Judge Frank Caprio is the television judge on ABC's Caught in Providence. He is also the chief municipal judge in Providence, Rhode Island
and a member of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Board of Rejents.
Judge Frank Caprio is the son of Antonio (Tup) Caprio, an immigrant from Teano
, Italy
and Filomena Caprio. As a youngster he worked with his father on his milkman route while attending the Providence, Rhode Island
public schools, where he was an All-State wrestler at Central High School. He later graduated from Providence College
with a degree in political science
. He was a civics teacher at Hope High School
in Providence while simultaneously attending Suffolk University
Law School
(evening division) in Boston
, Massachusetts
. He has been a member of the Rhode Island state bar
and federal bars since 1965.
Judge Frank Caprio is currently the Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court. He was appointed in 1985, and has been re-appointed six times by the mayor of Providence and the Providence City Council
. Judge Caprio also serves as the Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, directing the $600 million annual budget and major decisions of the public colleges and universities in the state. Three successive Rhode Island governors have appointed Caprio to this board. He also is a member of the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education. He has recently gained local fame for his television hit “Caught in Providence” which airs on the ABC affiliate in Providence showing the unedited proceedings of the Providence Municipal Court.
In 1960, at the age of 23 Caprio upset a thirty-year incumbent council president in the race for city councilman of Providence’s thirteenth ward where he served until 1970. Frank Caprio was also campaign manager for the successful Lt. Governor races of J. Joseph Garrahy and Thomas DiLiugio, in 1968 and 1976 respectively. Caprio was a Democratic candidate for Rhode Island attorney general in 1970 and mayor of Providence in 1978.
In 1980 and 1984, Caprio, an elected Delegate, brought his then teenage sons Frank and David to the Democratic National Conventions in New York City and San Francisco. In 2003, Caprio was the officiate at a wedding, and in 2010, he was serving as a judge on the Providence municipal court.
Judge Caprio is also a senior partner at the Providence law firm Caprio & Caprio which he founded; a partner in the landmark Coast Guard House restaurant in Narragansett, Rhode Island
and Casey's restaurant in Wakefield, Rhode Island
. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from his alma mater Suffolk University Law School in 1991, received an honorary degree from his alma mater Providence College in 2008 and was the commencement speaker at the University of Rhode Island
throughout the past decade. He has established scholarships in his father's name at Suffolk University Law School and Central High School (Providence, Rhode Island) for top students that come from 1st generation immigrant families.
He is married to Joyce Caprio. They have five children, including sons state Senator Frank T. Caprio
and state Representative David Caprio
.
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
and a member of the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Board of Rejents.
Judge Frank Caprio is the son of Antonio (Tup) Caprio, an immigrant from Teano
Teano
Teano is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, in the province of Caserta, 30 km north-west of that town on the main line to Rome from Naples. It stands at the south-east foot of an extinct volcano, Rocca Monfina.- Ancient times and Middle Ages:...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Filomena Caprio. As a youngster he worked with his father on his milkman route while attending the Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
public schools, where he was an All-State wrestler at Central High School. He later graduated from Providence College
Providence College
Providence College is a private, coeducational, Catholic university located about two miles west of downtown Providence, Rhode Island, United States, the state's capital city. With a 2010–2011 enrollment of 3,850 undergraduate students and 735 graduate students, the College specializes in academic...
with a degree in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. He was a civics teacher at Hope High School
Hope High School (Rhode Island)
Hope High School is a public high school in the East Side of Providence, Rhode Island, U.S.A. operated by Providence Public School District. It was founded in 1898 and since 2003, Hope High School has been partitioned into three semi-independent "communities" -- Hope High School Arts Community,...
in Providence while simultaneously attending Suffolk University
Suffolk University
Suffolk University is a private, non-sectarian, university located in Boston, Massachusetts and with over 16,000 students it is the third largest university in Boston...
Law School
Suffolk University Law School
Suffolk University Law School, also known as Suffolk Law School or SULS, is one of the professional graduate schools of Suffolk University. Suffolk University Law School is a private, non-sectarian, law school located in downtown Boston, Massachusetts. Suffolk University Law School was founded in...
(evening division) in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
. He has been a member of the Rhode Island state bar
Rhode Island Bar Association
The Rhode Island Bar Association is the integrated bar association of the U.S. state of Rhode Island.-Organization:...
and federal bars since 1965.
Judge Frank Caprio is currently the Chief Judge of the Providence Municipal Court. He was appointed in 1985, and has been re-appointed six times by the mayor of Providence and the Providence City Council
Providence City Council
The Providence City Council is the fifteen-member legislative body of the city of Providence, Rhode Island. The two major responsibilities of the council are enacting ordinances necessary to ensure the welfare and good order of the city and adopting the city's annual budget...
. Judge Caprio also serves as the Chairman of the Rhode Island Board of Governors for Higher Education, directing the $600 million annual budget and major decisions of the public colleges and universities in the state. Three successive Rhode Island governors have appointed Caprio to this board. He also is a member of the Rhode Island Board of Regents for Elementary and Secondary Education. He has recently gained local fame for his television hit “Caught in Providence” which airs on the ABC affiliate in Providence showing the unedited proceedings of the Providence Municipal Court.
In 1960, at the age of 23 Caprio upset a thirty-year incumbent council president in the race for city councilman of Providence’s thirteenth ward where he served until 1970. Frank Caprio was also campaign manager for the successful Lt. Governor races of J. Joseph Garrahy and Thomas DiLiugio, in 1968 and 1976 respectively. Caprio was a Democratic candidate for Rhode Island attorney general in 1970 and mayor of Providence in 1978.
In 1980 and 1984, Caprio, an elected Delegate, brought his then teenage sons Frank and David to the Democratic National Conventions in New York City and San Francisco. In 2003, Caprio was the officiate at a wedding, and in 2010, he was serving as a judge on the Providence municipal court.
Judge Caprio is also a senior partner at the Providence law firm Caprio & Caprio which he founded; a partner in the landmark Coast Guard House restaurant in Narragansett, Rhode Island
Narragansett, Rhode Island
Narragansett is a town in Washington County, Rhode Island, United States. The population was 15,868 at the 2010 census, but there is a greater population in the summer. The nickname for the town is "Gansett". The town of Narragansett occupies a narrow strip of land running along the eastern bank...
and Casey's restaurant in Wakefield, Rhode Island
Wakefield, Rhode Island
Wakefield is a village in the town of South Kingstown, Rhode Island, and the commercial center of the town. Together with the village of Peace Dale, it is treated by the U.S. Census as a component of the census designated place identified as Wakefield-Peacedale, Rhode Island. South Kingston was...
. He received an honorary Doctor of Laws from his alma mater Suffolk University Law School in 1991, received an honorary degree from his alma mater Providence College in 2008 and was the commencement speaker at the University of Rhode Island
University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island is the principal public research university in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. Its main campus is located in Kingston. Additional campuses include the Feinstein Campus in Providence, the Narragansett Bay Campus in Narragansett, and the W. Alton Jones Campus in West...
throughout the past decade. He has established scholarships in his father's name at Suffolk University Law School and Central High School (Providence, Rhode Island) for top students that come from 1st generation immigrant families.
He is married to Joyce Caprio. They have five children, including sons state Senator Frank T. Caprio
Frank T. Caprio
Frank T. Caprio is a Managing Director at Chatham Capital a mezzanine finance firm with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Providence. He had a twenty year political career which included being elected as the former General Treasurer of Rhode Island...
and state Representative David Caprio
David Caprio
David A. Caprio is an American attorney and Rhode Island State Representative from District 34. He was first elected on December 21, 1999. Caprio represents portions of South Kingstown and Narragansett. He is the son of Joyce and the Chief of the Providence Municipal Court Judge Frank Caprio and...
.