The law punished Galileo- and ignorance of history is no excuse.
But in your case it’s an explanation.
[The law punished Galileo]
The Holy Inquisition, presided over by the Pope himself, tried and convicted Galileo. Their sole evidence of Galileo’s guilt was quotes from the Bible that were used as “proof” that the Earth was the center of the universe.
I admit to being puzzled by your point in trying to compare Galileo’s trial with this clerk’s refusal to comply with the court order.