Two U.S. judges grilled a Justice Department lawyer on Wednesday over President Donald Trump's executive orders targeting prominent law firms WilmerHale and Perkins Coie, at hearings testing claims that the president's actions were retaliatory and unlawful.

As President Trump cracked down on law firms, many big firms remained silent or cut deals. Many lawyers and groups across the legal community are pushing back.

Two major law firms have asked separate judges to permanently block President Donald Trump’s executive orders that were designed to punish them and harm their business operations.