The woman was detained by security after alerting them to the large knife in her bag.

Also yesterday, another courtroom was cleared after both a defence lawyer and a prosecutor expressed concerns for their safety.

The two incidents came days after Justice Richard Refshauge was attacked during a bail hearing.

Rhys Liam Brown, 19, threw a water jug at the judge during an unsuccessful bail application in the ACT Supreme Court on Friday.

Yesterday, police were called to the foyer of the Magistrates Court and questioned the woman.

A police spokeswoman said the woman told police she had forgotten to remove the knife before coming to court. She was released with a formal caution.

A short time later, Scott Jamie Cole, 34, was removed from court after he became agitated during a bail application.

Cole is accused of having stabbed his partner's brother last week and was remanded in custody facing three charges.

For more on this story, including details of how Magistrate Lorraine Walker managed Cole's bail application, see the print edition of today's Canberra Times.