BOSTON —  The highest court in Massachusetts has ruled that a Rastafarian man who refused to shave his beard or cut his hair to comply with Jiffy Lube's employee grooming policy can take his religious discrimination case to trial.

The Supreme Judicial Court on Tuesday reversed a decision by a Superior Court judge who had dismissed Bobby Brown's lawsuit against Jiffy Lube.

Brown worked as a technician at a Jiffy Lube in Hadley. After the company began a new grooming policy in 2002, Brown told management that his religion does not permit him to shave or cut his hair.

Jiffy Lube then told Brown he could work only in lower bays where he did not have contact with customers.