Officers were deployed and bomb disposal experts searched the building for several hours after the force received the threat in a telephone call at about 10 am.
The court was cleared by ushers just after as it was about to begin the day’s first session, with officials, lawyers and members of the public all shepherded outside to an assembly point.
Emergency response vehicles were sent to the area and traffic was diverted away from neighbouring Union Road and Lemprière Street, which were both cordoned off.
The building reopened in the early afternoon. It is not thought that anything suspicious was found.
The evacuation caused a number of hearings to be delayed, including the appeal case of convicted murderer Darren McCormick. The 36-year-old, who was jailed for life earlier this year for killing and mutilating Islander Colin Chevalier, is arguing that his 25-year minimum tariff is too high (full story page 4).
Several prisoners were escorted back to La Moye after the threat was received.
