A federal judge on Monday put a Securities and Exchange Commission lawyer on the defensive over a settlement resolving civil charges that accused Bank of America Corporation of misleading investors when it acquired Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff in Manhattan said he hopes to rule by Feb. 19 on whether to approve the $150 million settlement — adding that he has additional questions to submit to the parties by Thursday about the pact, which officials announced last week.