This can be repeated at least in this way:
1. Open a symbol's properties from eeschema.
The symbol should have a footprint attached.
2. Open the footprint browser from the Footprint field.
3. Select a library, other than what you would actually use.
Don't select a footprint.
4. Close the browser.
5. Open the browser again.
6. The previously selected library name is highlighted.
7. But the current footprint's library content is in the right side list.
The highlighted library and the content list of the library should always match. Either the current footprint's library should be highlighted and the content of it should be listed, or the previously selected library name should be highlighted and the content of it should be listed.
Application: kicad
Version: (5.1.0-349-gf7d35cf94), release build
Libraries:
wxWidgets 3.0.4
libcurl/7.61.1 OpenSSL/1.1.1 (WinSSL) zlib/1.2.11 brotli/1.0.6 libidn2/2.0.5 libpsl/0.20.2 (+libidn2/2.0.5) nghttp2/1.34.0
Platform: Windows 8 (build 9200), 64-bit edition, 64 bit, Little endian, wxMSW
Build Info:
wxWidgets: 3.0.4 (wchar_t,wx containers,compatible with 2.8)
Boost: 1.68.0
OpenCASCADE Community Edition: 6.9.1
Curl: 7.61.1
Compiler: GCC 8.2.0 with C++ ABI 1013
Build settings:
USE_WX_GRAPHICS_CONTEXT=OFF
USE_WX_OVERLAY=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_MODULES=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_PYTHON3=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON=ON
KICAD_SCRIPTING_WXPYTHON_PHOENIX=OFF
KICAD_SCRIPTING_ACTION_MENU=ON
BUILD_GITHUB_PLUGIN=ON
KICAD_USE_OCE=ON
KICAD_USE_OCC=OFF
KICAD_SPICE=ON
They can't always match because you can make selection and perform operations on the tree when an edited footprint is on the canvas.
I agree that it's sub-optimal (we've tried various different highlighting schemes to try and show the difference between the tree selection and the canvas object, but none are ideal).