Nino Guruli

She was born in Tbilisi, Georgia, when the country was still part of the Soviet Union. At the age of 10, following the collapse of the USSR, Nino emigrated to the United States with her family.

An avid reader from an early age, Nino developed a lifelong love of literature. She graduated from Allderdice High School in Pittsburgh, PA and went on to attend Mount Holyoke College, where she studied philosophy and political science. She later earned her law degree from the University of Notre Dame and completed her D.Phil. at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

What distinguished Nino was not only her academic excellence or her many publications and awards, but her profound kindness, humility, and deep compassion for others. Her work reflected these values at every stage of her life. In 2018, she contributed to the ACLU Border Litigation Project at the University of Chicago Law School, researching the neglect and abuse of unaccompanied children by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. She also worked with The Constitution Project, which conducted a comprehensive investigation into detainee treatment.

Her international work included roles with the Special Tribunal for Lebanon and the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia in The International Court of Justice in The Hague, as well as numerous pro bono efforts.

Nino served as an editor for several respected journals, including the Cambridge Journal of International and Comparative Law, the American Journal of International Law, and the Journal of College and University Law.

In the final five years of her life, she worked as a Senior Case and Policy Officer for the Oversight Board in Washington DC, which was composed of independent expert members from around the world, to ensure respect for freedom of expression and human rights on Facebook and Instagram.

Nino was a passionate defender of human rights, a steadfast advocate for the vulnerable, and a source of love and strength to those closest to her. She was a devoted daughter to her parents, Tamara and Georgi Guruli; a beloved sister to Salome and Gio; and an inspiration to her students at the University of Chicago, her friends, and her extended family in both the United States and Georgia.

Visitation will be held at Woody Funeral Home, 1771 North Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23229, US, on April 4, 2026, from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm, followed by a Funeral Service at the same location from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to the staff at VCU Medical Center in Richmond for their compassionate care. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Brain Tumor Association at www.abta.org.