A federal judge who rejected a Sept. 11 health settlement says he would prefer more open records in litigation stemming from the World Trade Center attack and might consider unsealing all records.

Judge Alvin Hellerstein commented Thursday after hearing lawyers argue whether a settlement related to claims of property damages resulting from the terrorist attacks should be public.

A settlement of most of the property claims has been kept secret while Hellerstein decides what should be put on the public record.

Lawyers for insurance companies that have settled have argued for secrecy, saying it was a private deal involving sophisticated commercial plaintiffs.

A lawyer for developer Larry Silverstein, who has not settled property claims, has argued that the settlement be made public.