A woman who's running for superior court judge in King County says she was stunned to receive a rating of "not qualified" from the county bar association, and she's not the only one who was surprised.

Two state appeals court judges have now written to the King County Bar Association on behalf of attorney Hong Tran, insisting that she does excellent work and is exceptionally well qualified to be a judge.

Many voters rely on such ratings in determining whom to vote for.

The 46-year-old Tran is a public defender and has devoted her 17-year legal career to helping the poor in civil and criminal matters. She says she's never even had a bar complaint filed against her.

Tran is running against King County senior deputy prosecutor Sean O'Donnell, who has raised and spent far more money than she has.