I have to disagree with any blanket statements about passing on the right. IMO not only every intersection is different, but every set of traffic conditions at any individual intersection.

In Washington, the statute governing passing on the right is pretty similar to the states I'm familiar with. It is legal under the described conditions, although obviously it may not always be safe.

Unless you're taking the lane while traveling, you're going to have to cut in front of a car to take the lane at a stoplight, whether it's the first car in line you're cutting in front of, or the tenth. From the way the OP described the behavior of the motorist, she likely would've done the same thing regardless of where in the line she was stopped.

Another thing to remember - not relevant to the OP but to some of the comments - is that "hook" collisions, whether right or left, are almost always preventable if you're paying attention to the traffic around you. Right hooks can and do happen more often in green-light situations than in starting from a red. If you're about to be right-hooked, then turn right along with the car on your left. We may have the right-of-way, but there's really no excuse for not paying attention to the vehicles on your left, or for riding in traffic too fast to react.