diff --git a/mcp-server/src/legal_mcp/services/db.py b/mcp-server/src/legal_mcp/services/db.py
index ab69227..630c3b0 100644
--- a/mcp-server/src/legal_mcp/services/db.py
+++ b/mcp-server/src/legal_mcp/services/db.py
@@ -2510,12 +2510,15 @@ async def list_pending_extraction_requests(
         else "halacha_extraction_requested_at"
     )
     pool = await get_pool()
+    # Drop the legacy ``source_kind = 'external_upload'`` filter — without it
+    # internal_committee rows could be stamped (we opened that gate in
+    # request_metadata_extraction / request_halacha_extraction) but stayed
+    # invisible to the worker forever.
     rows = await pool.fetch(
         f"""SELECT id, case_number, case_name, court, date,
                   practice_area, is_binding, {col} AS requested_at
             FROM case_law
             WHERE {col} IS NOT NULL
-              AND source_kind = 'external_upload'
             ORDER BY {col} ASC
             LIMIT $1""",
         limit,