diff --git a/web-ui/src/lib/api/precedent-library.ts b/web-ui/src/lib/api/precedent-library.ts
index 9a46fc5..b9e8a2d 100644
--- a/web-ui/src/lib/api/precedent-library.ts
+++ b/web-ui/src/lib/api/precedent-library.ts
@@ -187,13 +187,37 @@ export function usePrecedents(filters: ListFilters = {}) {
 }
 
 /** A precedent is "active" while text/halacha extraction is in flight or
- * queued for the local MCP worker. Used by the auto-refresh poller and
- * by the row UI to disable destructive actions. */
+ * legitimately queued for the local MCP worker. Used by the auto-refresh
+ * poller and by the row UI to disable destructive actions.
+ *
+ * Once a status is "completed" or "failed", the row is NEVER active —
+ * even if the corresponding `*_requested_at` timestamp still has a value.
+ * The worker is supposed to NULL it on success but in practice doesn't
+ * always, and treating those rows as active leaves them permanently
+ * undeletable. */
 export function isPrecedentActive(p: Precedent): boolean {
+  // Text extraction
   if (p.extraction_status === "processing") return true;
+
+  // Halacha extraction
   if (p.halacha_extraction_status === "processing") return true;
-  if (p.halacha_extraction_requested_at !== null) return true;
-  if (p.metadata_extraction_requested_at !== null) return true;
+  if (
+    p.halacha_extraction_status === "pending" &&
+    p.halacha_extraction_requested_at !== null
+  ) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // Metadata extraction has no status column — only the timestamp.
+  // Treat as active only when extraction hasn't yet fully completed
+  // (otherwise stale timestamps linger after success).
+  if (
+    p.metadata_extraction_requested_at !== null &&
+    p.extraction_status !== "completed"
+  ) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
   return false;
 }