diff --git a/src/components/documents/rich-text-editor.tsx b/src/components/documents/rich-text-editor.tsx
index 330cd27..5ccd75b 100644
--- a/src/components/documents/rich-text-editor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/documents/rich-text-editor.tsx
@@ -59,13 +59,18 @@ export function RichTextEditor({
     },
   });
 
-  // Keep editor in sync when value is reset externally
+  // Keep editor in sync when value is reset/loaded externally (e.g. opening a saved pleading).
+  // Only re-sync when the incoming value differs meaningfully from the current editor HTML so
+  // we don't fight the user's typing on every keystroke.
   useEffect(() => {
-    if (editor && value !== editor.getHTML()) {
-      editor.commands.setContent(value || "<p></p>", { emitUpdate: false });
+    if (!editor) return;
+    const current = editor.getHTML();
+    const incoming = value || "<p></p>";
+    if (incoming !== current) {
+      editor.commands.setContent(incoming, { emitUpdate: false });
     }
     // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
-  }, [value === ""]);
+  }, [value, editor]);
 
   if (!editor) return null;