East African Community Court of Justice Rules of Procedure, 2019. (5) (a) The Court may at any stage before passing a decree amend the issues or frame additional issues on such terms as it thinks fit and all such amendments or additional issues as may be necessary for determining the matter in controversy between the parties shall be so made or amended. (b) The Court may also at any stage before passing a decree strike out any issue that appears to it to be wrongly framed or introduced. (6) If the matter is to proceed to hearing the Court shall fix the date for commencement of the hearing. (7) In any case where there is no need for evidence and all parties opt to present legal arguments in writing, the Court shall prescribe the time within which the parties shall file their respective written legal arguments and may fix the date on which the parties shall appear before a bench of three or five judges to deal with any other matter the Court thinks necessary. Recourse to alternative dispute resolution. 64. (1) If the case has prospects for settlement, the Court shall direct that the case proceeds to mediation or other form of settlement. (2) Mediation or any other form of settlement shall be conducted by the Judge who presides over a Scheduling Conference and shall be in accordance with guidelines set out in the Fifth Schedule. (3) The mediation or any other form of settlement shall be completed within twenty one (21) days after commencement; provided that the mediator may extend the time for a period not exceeding fifteen (15) days on application by the parties, showing sufficient reasons for the extension. 40