“Dura lex, sed lex”
This line is roughly translated to “The law is harsh, but it is the law”.
While it can impose order in a society, this approach to interpreting legal codes can come at a price.
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This world, after all, is not merely black and white. And for people who are trying their best just to get by, laws can be callous and inconsiderate of circumstances.
This might be the charm of a famous TV show that originated on the internet.
If you watch YouTube videos or Instagram reels, you might’ve chanced upon Caught in Providence.
Justice Frank Caprio
He became somewhat of a celebrity through his compassionate judgments.
While others focus on the technicality of the law, Judge Caprio brings compassion and his brand of commonsense justice into his courtroom.
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Judge Caprio, with his stellar career as the Chief Municipal Judge of Providence, Rhode Island, knows the importance of giving people a break.
He understands that when people who are just doing their best are kicked down, all he needs to do is help them back up.
Judge Caprio and a single mom.
She was summoned to court because of her mounting fines for traffic citations. Instead of immediately jumping to a decision, Judge Caprio greeted her son instead.
At that moment, the mom shared a bit about her situation.
She’s a mother of two kids.
Gabriel, who proudly shared that he’s four when he’s just turning so in about four months, and a daughter who’s in 12th grade.
She revealed that she’s been raising her kids alone. Piece by piece, she shared how difficult it was to not be in all places at the same time.
She’s just gotten a job in a call center but on top of that, she also had to look after her kids’ needs like food, utilities, and rent.
She’s willing to take it all on.
She said that even if it feels overwhelming, as a mom, she doesn’t want to impose responsibilities on her elder daughter.
She just wants her to finish her studies so she can lead a better life.
And even if she was alone, she wanted to give the best for her children because she “chose to be a mom”.
Even if it meant sleepless nights, daily anxieties, and struggling to make ends meet.
Judge Caprio was impressed by her resilience.
But the mom has something more to be admired for. She said that her guiding principle in life is just to do good for others and to stand up for what is right.
Much like in her case, she said she was willing to pay and only asked for a bit of leniency on deadlines and flexibility on payment.
Understanding what the mom is going through, Judge Caprio made a decision.
He fined her $200.
But instead of shelling out her own money, Judge Caprio said that the $200 payment will be shouldered by the foundation named after his late mother.
He also told the mother that if she ever needs something, especially when it comes to financial concerns, she shouldn’t hesitate to come down to the courthouse and ask for him.
The grateful mother returned the judge’s generosity.
She said that whenever she watches him on TV she prays for him so that he can continue to do good.
In the end, when Judge Caprio said that he hoped they could do more for her, she only said “You’ve already done so much.”
Because for people with grit like her, all they need is a little breathing space and some compassion.
See this mom melt Judge Caprio’s heart in the video below!
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