Index: src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-comments-list-table.php
===================================================================
--- src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-comments-list-table.php	(revision 42732)
+++ src/wp-admin/includes/class-wp-comments-list-table.php	(working copy)
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@
 		if ( 'spam' !== $the_comment_status && 'trash' !== $the_comment_status ) {
 			$actions['edit'] = "<a href='comment.php?action=editcomment&amp;c={$comment->comment_ID}' aria-label='" . esc_attr__( 'Edit this comment' ) . "'>" . __( 'Edit' ) . '</a>';
 
-			$format = '<a data-comment-id="%d" data-post-id="%d" data-action="%s" class="%s" aria-label="%s" href="#">%s</a>';
+			$format = '<button type="button" data-comment-id="%d" data-post-id="%d" data-action="%s" class="%s button-link" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="%s">%s</button>';
 
 			$actions['quickedit'] = sprintf( $format, $comment->comment_ID, $comment->comment_post_ID, 'edit', 'vim-q comment-inline', esc_attr__( 'Quick edit this comment inline' ), __( 'Quick&nbsp;Edit' ) );
 
Index: src/wp-admin/js/edit-comments.js
===================================================================
--- src/wp-admin/js/edit-comments.js	(revision 42732)
+++ src/wp-admin/js/edit-comments.js	(working copy)
@@ -632,17 +632,39 @@
 	},
 
 	close : function() {
-		var c, replyrow = $('#replyrow');
+		var commentRow = $(),
+			replyRow = $( '#replyrow' );
 
 		// replyrow is not showing?
-		if ( replyrow.parent().is('#com-reply') )
+		if ( replyRow.parent().is( '#com-reply' ) ) {
 			return;
+		}
 
-		if ( this.cid && this.act == 'edit-comment' ) {
-			c = $('#comment-' + this.cid);
-			c.fadeIn(300, function(){ c.show(); }).css('backgroundColor', '');
+		if ( this.cid ) {
+			commentRow = $( '#comment-' + this.cid );
 		}
 
+		/*
+		 * When closing the Quick Edit form, show the comment row and move focus
+		 * back to the Quick Edit button.
+		 */
+		if ( 'edit-comment' === this.act ) {
+			commentRow.fadeIn( 300, function() {
+				commentRow
+					.show()
+					.find( '.vim-q' )
+						.attr( 'aria-expanded', 'false' )
+						.focus();
+			} ).css( 'backgroundColor', '' );
+		}
+
+		// When closing the Reply form, move focus back to the Reply button.
+		if ( 'replyto-comment' === this.act ) {
+			commentRow.find( '.vim-r' )
+				.attr( 'aria-expanded', 'false' )
+				.focus();
+		}
+
 		// reset the Quicktags buttons
 		if ( typeof QTags != 'undefined' )
 			QTags.closeAllTags('replycontent');
@@ -649,14 +671,14 @@
 
 		$('#add-new-comment').css('display', '');
 
-		replyrow.hide();
-		$('#com-reply').append( replyrow );
+		replyRow.hide();
+		$( '#com-reply' ).append( replyRow );
 		$('#replycontent').css('height', '').val('');
 		$('#edithead input').val('');
-		$( '.notice-error', replyrow )
+		$( '.notice-error', replyRow )
 			.addClass( 'hidden' )
 			.find( '.error' ).empty();
-		$( '.spinner', replyrow ).removeClass( 'is-active' );
+		$( '.spinner', replyRow ).removeClass( 'is-active' );
 
 		this.cid = '';
 		this.originalContent = '';
@@ -960,8 +982,7 @@
 	}
 
 	// Quick Edit and Reply have an inline comment editor.
-	$( '#the-comment-list' ).on( 'click', '.comment-inline', function (e) {
-		e.preventDefault();
+	$( '#the-comment-list' ).on( 'click', '.comment-inline', function() {
 		var $el = $( this ),
 			action = 'replyto';
 
@@ -969,6 +990,7 @@
 			action = $el.data( 'action' );
 		}
 
+		$( this ).attr( 'aria-expanded', 'true' );
 		commentReply.open( $el.data( 'commentId' ), $el.data( 'postId' ), action );
 	} );
 });