Court was not in session, and it did not take a hammering of the gavel to quiet the crowd of more than 200 who filled the room as renowned trial attorney Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr. spoke.

Prior to a signing for his new book, “Journey to Justice,” Cochran answered audience questions in the Hughes-Trigg Theater Tuesday.

Although best-known for his defense in the People vs. Orenthal James Simpson, the infamous trial was not the focus of his visit. Cochran emphasized the importance of education and practicing persistent study habits in one’s college career.

“The habits that you form now are the habits that will stick with you forever,” Cochran said.

He discussed his motivation for becoming a lawyer and how his successes led him to such high-profile cases.

“I don’t just take a case because I think I can win,” Cochran said. “Being a lawyer is a service not just to your client but to the community.”

Cochran said he knew he would be a lawyer when he was 11 years old.

He attributes former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall for inspiring him to pursue a career as a lawyer after the monumental decision in Brown vs. the Board of Education declared that “separate but equal” was unconstitutional and violated the Fourteenth Amendment.

“I want to use the law to change society for the better,” Cochran said.

Program Council’s Black Awareness Committee hosted the event to allow Cochran to answer questions from SMU students as well as members of the SMU community on his life as a lawyer and his new book.

“We’re honored to have Mr. Cochran come and speak,” said BAC chairman Byron Sanders. “There was a great turnout of the whole community and not just law students.”

Audience members filled the foyer of the ground floor of the student center for a book signing after Cochran spoke.

Clarence Kelley, who heard about the upcoming appearance from his son, first-year student Keith Kelley, attended while on vacation.

“It was terrific getting a chance to see a successful black story,” Kelley said. “It says to young people that this is what you can do with an education. You can make a difference.”

“Journey to Justice” chronicles Cochran’s early years as a young man in Shreveport, La., to his high-profile cases and legal career as a whole.

Cochran hopes that other attorneys will follow in his legacy to create change, and that he will not just be remembered for, ‘if the glove doesn’t fit, you must acquit.’

“I want to be remembered as a warrior for justice.”

Cochran, who received his law degree from Loyola University School of Law in 1962 began as Deputy City Attorney for Los Angeles, and now maintains law offices around the nation.